how to be

when i read this a few days ago i had my kids on my mind. and the ways i need to be a better parent. and so i read it like advice to parents of how they should raise their children. this is alma couseling his son helaman in how to be with the people of the church and how to be as an individual in the gospel:

..teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.

preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.

o, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

yeah, and cry unto thy God for all thy support; yea let all they doings be unto the Lord, and withersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of they heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

~alma 37:32-37

kind words

i've been thinking a lot about the tone of voice that i use with my kids. sometimes they drive me crazy to a point where i find myself snapping at them and then instantly regretting it. so, i've been praying that i will use kind words with them. and watch what i say. and not just that, but to use a soft tone in my voice.

if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

behold also the ships, which are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

~james 3:2-5

already there

if we go down into ourselves we find that we possess exactly what we desire.
~simone weil

when i read this quote i was thinking about the kind of woman that i want to be. how i want to be more confident, witty and Christlike. this quote touched my soul and helped me to see my divine worth more clearly.

content

i have learned, in whatsoever state i am, therewith to be content.
~philippians 4:11

be

peace of mind
and a good life
are only for those
who are content
with what they have.
~alexander a. odume {recalling his father's advice}

repose

repose is a quality too many undervalue...in the clamor one is irresistibly drawn to the woman who sits gracefully relaxed, who keeps her hands still, talks in a low voice and listens with responsive eyes and smiles. she creates a spell around her, charming to the ear, the eye and the mind.
~good housekeeping, november 1947


she did not talk to people as if they were strange hard shells she had to crack open to get inside. she talked as if she were already in the shell. in their very shell.
~marita bonner 1926


greet everyone you meet with a warm smile. no matter how busy you are, don't rush your encounters with co-workers, family, and friends. speak softly. listen attentively. act as if every conversation you have is the most important thing on your mind today. look your children and your parter in the eyes when they talk to you. stroke the cat, caress the dog. lavish love on every living being you meet. see how different you feel at the end of the day.
~simple abundance, march 19

easter

and he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.

therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.

the spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.

now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

~alma 11:40-44