Good Book

This was left in my comment box by a mother...

"I love the book, I am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson. It's not so much a "how to" parenting book or tips on how to raise your family. It is more a quick read that arouses the divinity of Motherhood. It really connects to the spirit of the job. I just wanted to pass the goodness along. enjoy."

Thank you for sharing Team Hancock!

Here is the last quote from Elder Scott's talk, Obtaining Help from the Lord.

"If you are despondent, racked by transgression, are ill, alone, or desperately in need of comfort and support, I solemnly testify that the Lord will help you when you carefully obey the spiritual law upon which that help is predicated. He is your Father. You are His child. He loves you. He will never let you down. I know He will bless you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Flood Your Life with Light

"To gain unshakable faith in Jesus Christ is to flood your life with brilliant light. You are no longer alone to struggle with challenges you know you cannot resolve or control your yourself, for He said, "If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me." (Moro. 7:33)

-Elder Richard G. Scott, "Obtaining Help from the Lord," Ensign, Nov 1991, 84

Obtaining Blessings from the Lord

**My mom printed this talk out for me a few weeks ago and guess who the talk was given by... yep, Elder Scott. For the next 3 days I am going to write quotes from that talk. I don't want to write them all at the same time because they are very powerful.

"We see such a limited part of the eternal plan He has fashioned for each one of us. Trust Him, even when in eternal perspective it temporarily hurts very much. Have patience when you are asked to wait when you want immediate action. He may ask you to do things which are powerfully against your will. Exercise faith and say, Let Thy will be done. Such experiences, honorably met, prepare you and condition you for yet greater blessings. As your Father, His purpose is your eternal happiness, your continuing development, your increasing capacity. His desire is to share with you all that He has. The path you are to walk through life may be very different from others. You may not always know why He does what He does, but you can know that He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful. He would have you suffer no consequence, no challenge, endure no burden that is superfluous to your good."

-Elder Richard G. Scott, "Obtaining Help from the Lord" Ensign Nov. 1991

We MUST Apply What We Learn

I am in my first trimester of pregnancy right now and all I can find the motivation to do is sleep and eat! So, needless to say I haven't been as consistent in posting as I would like to but I will be trying.

Back to learning more about listening to the spirit and having prayers answered and back to Elder Scott's great wisdom on the subject. Elder Scott says, "To obtain spiritual direction or to acquire spiritual knowledge are not sufficient--you must find the courage and strength to consistently use them."

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will,, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."

D&C 58:26-28; see also verses 29-33

From Elder Scott's book, Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy

Home Organization Tips

Conquering Kid Clutter

I just LOVE organization, but I'm not great at it. So my organization tips always come from someone else. I was reading on the blog that I shared with you yesterday and found a post about conquering kid clutter. Here's that link.
http://www.simplify101.com/conquer-kid-clutter.php

Home Organization

I just found a blog that I thought was good for home organization. You can also sign up to receive "quick tips" on organizing.

http://creativeorganizing.typepad.com/creative_organizing/

Acquiring Spiritual Guidance

Elder Scott says, "To acquire spiritual guidance and to obey it with wisdom, one must:

-Seek divine light, in humility
-Exercise faith, especially in Jesus Christ
-Repent
-Strive diligently to keep His commandments
-Pray continually
-Hearken to spiritual guidance
-Express gratitude

Parenting Tip

Keep the Friend or some other good reading material in the car and when you are parked waiting to pick up a child from school or dance, read a quick story to the other children.

Humility and Personal Revelation

Humility is such an important part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is especially important when one desires to gain more knowledge and receive spiritual gifts.

Going back to Elder Scott's book, Finding, Peace, Happiness and Joy, he states:

"Why is humility essential to the acquiring of spiritual knowledge? To be humble is to be teachable. Humility permits you to be tutored by the Holy Spirit and to be taught from sources inspired by the Lord, such as the scriptures, the voice of His servants, or inspired parents. The seeds of personal understanding and growth germinate and flourish in the fertile soil of humility. When cultivated through the exercise of faith, pruned by repentance, and fortified by obedience and good works, such seed produce the cherished fruit of spirituality. Divine guidance and power then result -- guidance to know the will of the Lord, and power to provide the capability to accomplish that inspired will. Such power comes from God after we have done "all we can do."

A proud individual cannot know the things of the spirit. Paul taught this truth, saying:

"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God... But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness not him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Therefore, spiritual guidance must be cultivated in the environment of humility. Pride, overconfidence, selfishness, seeking for position or the honors of men, stifle spiritual direction."

(Elder Richard G. Scott, Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy, pg 65-66)

**We can all be humble on our own to a certain degree, but ultimately we must ask Heavenly Father to teach us to be humble and show us where we aren't humble. Unless we ask we will not really understand what true humility is.

Great Idea on Listening to the Spirit

My sister-in-law, Sarah, left this great comment. She also told me that her mother kept a separate journal called her prayer journal, to record all of the prayers and answers in.

"I really believe principle, it's one my mum always taught me. She would sometimes write out her prayers, word for word, and wait for the answer and then write them out word for word. Seems kind of daunting doesn't it, but I've tried it and it helps me to focus and makes 'hearing' the Spirit easier, plus I also think its shows Heavenly Father that he can trust you if you put so much effort into trying to listen."
-Sarah

Like Elder Scott's quote from the last post said, it is very important to write these things down, act on any instruction that has been given and then be grateful for the inspiration.

Parenting Tip

Something I do with my kids is pick a value each month: Respect, Honesty, Loyalty, etc... We then talk about it, read about it, learn poems about it, whatever we can think of to teach the value of the month. I like the book, The Book of Virtues, by Willam J. Bennett because it has 10 different virtues and each virtue has classic poems and stories to go along with each one. My kids really love the stories and ask me to tell them to again to them when we are in the car.

The Spirit Speaks to Your Heart and Mind

"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation."

-D&C 8:2-3

Did you know that the spirit can speak to you almost word for word in your mind? Like dictation.

Elder Scott says: "Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down word for word, like spiritual dictation."

He then goes on to describe an experience he had with this dictation. He was in a Sunday church meeting when the impressions came flooding in, "I received such an outpouring of impressions that were so personal that I felt it inappropriate to try to record them in the midst of a Sunday School class. I sought a more private location. There I continued to write the feeling that flooded into my mind and heart as accurately and as faithfully as possible. After each powerful impression was recorded, I pondered the feeling I had received to determine if I had accurately expressed them in writing. As a result, I made a few minor changes to what had been written. Then I studied their meaning and application in my own personal life.

Subsequently I prayed, reviewing with the Lord what I thought I had been thaught by the Spirit. When a feeling of peace and serenity confirmed what I had sought, I thanked Him for the guidance given. I was then impressed to ask if there was yet more that I could be given to understand. I received further impressions, and the process of writing down the impression and pondering and praying to know if I had done it properly was repeated. Again I was prompted to ask, "is there more I should know?" There was. When that last, most sacred experience was concluded, I had received some of the most precious, specific, personal direction one could ever hope to obtain in this life. I am convinced that had I not responded to the first impressions, valued, and recorded them, I would not have received the last, most precious guidance. What I have described in not an isolated experience."

-Elder Richard G. Scott, "Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy" pgs. 42,45,46

New Blog

I have made a new blog to help people overcome depression. I made this blog because it is something I delt with. I hope it will help you or someone you know. As always, I would love comments.

http://mylady-depressionhelp.blogspot.com/

Parenting Tips

I don't know any of my own tips in child raising so I will use what I have learned from others. Daryl Hoole gives this advice in her book, "The Ultimate Calling, The Art of Homemaking for Today."

Love Them. "The measure of love is to love without measure" (Anonymous).
Like Them. Appreciate whatever is noble in your children.
Listen to Them. Listen to and understand your children.
"Communication is really important in our house. I think one of the reasons why each of our 7 children feels so free to talk to their father and me is that we really listen to them. We give them our full attention as they talk, and we listen to understand, rather than to judge or preach. Therefore they are receptive to our counsel when we offer it." -Daryl Hoole

Personal Revelation

I love Elder Scott's book, "Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy." He has a chapter called, To Understand Spiritual Guidance. I will be writing a few of the key points from that chapter in the next few posts.

"Another example underscores the clarity of spiritual communication. You may have opened your eyes under water while swimming. Everything looks blurred and difficult to identify, yet with the aid of a diver's mask, every detail can be seen with absolute clarity. Satan tries to blur reality and confuse you by tempting you to incorporate false principles into your life. Father in Heaven can clarify your life by sharing correct principles through the Holy Ghost. How you exercise your moral agency will determine which of these two influences will be predominant in your life. Your happiness now and for the eternities will unquestionably be determined whether or not you follow the spiritual guidance of the Lord communicated through the Holy Ghost."

President Kimball taught: "Revelations will probably never come unless they are desired. I think few people receive revelations while lounging on a couch... I believe most revelations would come when a man (or women, I would add) is on his tip toes, reaching as high as he can for something which he know he needs, and then there bursts upon him the answer to his problems."
-Elder Richard G. Scott, "Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy"

I Need Help!!!

Those of you who know me know that my oldest son is extremely difficult to raise. Those who don't I'll just put it this way, his primary teacher said there was only one of him in ALL of Heaven. Anyway, I am having a very difficult time getting him to obey. My husband and I have tried everything we know. If there is anyone reading this that has any suggestions at all I would love to hear them. Thank you. Just email me at drennanbakerblog@yahoo.com

Importance of Personal Revelation

"Personal communication with God through the Holy Spirit is a reality. To me it is as literally real as life itself and far more precious than all of the treasure of the earth. As you understand and use the eternal principles governing such communication, you can learn that the counsel of others and the programs of the Church are useful aids but not the best source of fundamental direction in you life. That guidance come from the Lord through the Holy Ghost."

-Richard G. Scott, "Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy"

A Great Place to Start with Listening to the Spirit

"A test whereby we can know whether or not revelation is from God: 1. Is it contrary to instruction from a living Prophet? 2. Is there anything secret? 3. Does it bring harmony and peace of mind? 4. Does it square with the scriptures? 5. What have you done yourself to ask of the Lord? 6. Are you keeping the commandments? By answering this series of questions, you can know by the Spirit whether or not the information come from God."

-Thomas S. Monson,

Favorite Quotations From

The Collection Of

Thomas S. Monson, 104

I think this is a great place to start when wanting to know more about listening to the spirit and whether or not you heard right. :)

Next Week--Listening to the Spirit

Starting tomorrow I thought we would discuss "listening to the spirit". If you are like me, you could use a bit of work in that area. I will try to do better a posting earlier in the day, although, with 3 kids things can get a little crazy.

Parenting

I am sorry I didn't make a post earlier in the day. However, someone wrote a comment on the post from yesterday and she has a parenting blog!! It is wonderful! Please check it out.

http://www.parents-and-kids.blogspot.com/

This is a really great parenting advice blog!

She has a great section on helping build your child's self confidence.

http://www.parents-and-kids.com/blog/en/topics/be-a-good-parent/

Parenting Advice

Last Sunday my husband and I went over to a good friends house for dinner. They have 5 kids ranging in age from 17 yrs. down to 6 yrs. Each child was so kind, helpful, mannerly and even complimentary of their parents. I asked what advice would they give to parents and the husband said, "learn to be patient and control your moods. If you are angry do your best not to let it show in your face or tone of voice." These were not his exact words but this was basically it. Such simple yet profound advice. This is a way to "keep you children's hearts."
-From Bryan

"There is no way

to be a perfect

parent, but there

are a million

ways to be a

good one."

-Daryl Hoole's book

D&C 35:24

I was reading this last night and just loved it.

"Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound: and I will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish;"

Humility is a Strength

Yesterday I was going to write more from Elder Maxwell's talk. As I was reading through it I realized I would have to copy and paste most of it so I just decided not to add more. It is a great talk to read though.

Often times in our world today, we think of humility and meekness as being a wimpy door mat. Quite the contrary, we become "steadfast and immovable," not easily riled up or tossed by the hardships, disappointments, let downs and frustrations of life. I would say this is one of the first ways we acquire true JOY. As we are humble so many other things open up to us.

I really like what author John Pontius says about humility being a strength in response to Heleman 3:35.

"Does it strike you as a contradiction in terms to say "stronger and stronger in humility?" How can humility be strength? This is true because yielding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit is an act of humility which brings spiritual strength. "

-John Pontius, "Following the Light of Christ into His Presence"

Home Organization Tip - Thursday

Have a Place for Everything and Keep Everything in it's Place

Assign a "home" to everything.

Get a labeler at an office supply store and label things. Label shelves in the pantry. This will also help when others in the house are putting things away.

You can, of course, store things in plastic boxes in the basement or garage and then make an inventory list for quick and easy finding.

-Daryl Hoole and Daughters, "The Ultimate Career, The Art of Homemaking for Today"

Home Organization Tip- Tuesday

Allow Good Habits to Simplify Your Lives

Make it a habit to pick up as you go along. Try to teach other members of the family this. Daryl Hoole says, "Even without thinking my husband, Roger, straightens couch cushions, arranges throws, and picks up small scraps off the floor as he walks through a room."

If anyone has a tip on how to get family members to do this, I could use it!

Do Not Put it Down; Put it Away

It is not considerate of others to litter. It usually requires no more effort and no more thought (once a habit is formed) to put something away properly than to leave it our. Get in the habit of picking up and putting away items as you walk through your house and yard.

-Daryl Hoole and Daughters, "The Ulitmate Career, The Art of Homemaking for Today"

Meekness

Neal A. Maxwell and Moroni state why I chose to focus on humility and meekness for the next little bit.

"The Greek rendition of the word meek in the New Testament, by the way, is “gentle and humble.

Actually, meekness is not an attribute which is essential only in itself, said Moroni. It is also vital because one cannot develop those other crucial virtues—faith, hope, and charity—without meekness.

In the ecology of the eternal attributes, these cardinal characteristics are inextricably bound up together. Among them, meekness is often the initiator, facilitator, and consolidator.

In fact, if one needs any further persuasion as to how vital this virtue is, Moroni warned, “none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart.” (Moro. 7:43–44.) If we could but believe, really believe, in the reality of that bold but accurate declaration, you and I would find ourselves focusing on the crucial rather than the marginal tasks in life! We would then cease pursuing lifestyles which, inevitably and irrevocably, are going out of style!

Even so, why the stress on meekness? Merely because it is nice to be nice? The reasons are far more deeply embedded in the “plan of happiness” than that!

Perhaps, brothers and sisters, what we brought with us as intelligence into our creation as spirit children constitutes a “given” within which even God must work. Add to that possibility the clear reality of God’s deep commitment to our free agency—and we begin to see how essential meekness is! We need to learn so much, and yet we are free to choose! (See 2 Ne. 2:27.) How crucial it is to be teachable! There “is no other way” in which God could do what He has declared it is His intent to do. No wonder He and His prophets emphasize meekness time and time again!"

-Neal A. Maxwell, "Meekness—A Dimension of True Discipleship"

These are just a few quotes from the wonderful talk. I highly recommend reading the whole thing. I will be posting more from it tomorrow.

Link to Elder Maxwells Talk

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=3e34744047e7c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

Home Organization Tip

Sometimes you get discouraged

Because I am so small

And always leave my fingerprints

On the wall,

But every day I'm growing up

And soon I'll be so tall

That all those little handprints

Will be hard to recall.

So here's a special handprint

Just so you can say

That's how my fingers looked

When I placed them here today.

-Author unknown

Messes multiply; clutter attracts clutter. Do you have a desk or table that collects everyones junk? Clean it off. Have you noticed that when an area is junky other people seem to think it is okay to leave their junk there as well? Try to keep desks and table clear of papers and other items and in return others (with the exception of kids) will think twice before they set something down and leave it.

-Daryl Hoole and Daughters, "The Ultimate Career, The Art of Homemaking For Today."

I hope this one works, I will give it a try on my kitchen desk...

Humility

I really need to work on this one! Humility is one of the main characteristics we must have in order to enter the Kingdom of God. The next few days I will spend time learning more and posting more about humility.

"King Benjamin seems to teach that becoming like a child is a gradual process of spiritual development in which we are aided by the Holy Ghost and our reliance on Christ’s Atonement. Through this process, we will eventually acquire the childlike attributes of meekness, humility, patience, love, and spiritual submissiveness. True humility will inevitably lead us to say to God, “Thy will be done.” And because what we are does affect what we do, our submissiveness will be reflected in our reverence, gratitude, and willingness to accept callings, counsel, and correction. "

-Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy, "To Walk Humbly with Thy God”

"Many of us live or work in an environment where humility is often misunderstood and considered a weakness. Not many corporations or institutions include humility as a value statement or a desired characteristic of their management. Yet as we learn about the workings of God, the power of a humble and submissive spirit becomes apparent. In the kingdom of God, greatness begins with humility and submissiveness. These companion virtues are the first critical steps to opening the doors to the blessings of God and the power of the priesthood. It matters not who we are or how lofty our credentials appear. Humility and submissiveness to the Lord, coupled with a grateful heart, are our strength and our hope."

"Humbly submitting our will to the Father brings us the empowerment of God—the power of humility. It is the power to meet life’s adversities, the power of peace, the power of hope, the power of a heart throbbing with a love for and testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ, even the power of redemption. To this end, the Savior is our supreme example of the power of humility and submissiveness. After all, His submitting His will to the Father brought about the greatest, and even the most powerful, event in all of history. Perhaps some of the most sacred words in all the scriptures are simply, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). "

-Bishop Richard C. Edgley,"The Empowerment of Humility"

Organization Tip of the Day

Give It Away

When you have too much, give some of it away. A common rule of thumb is, if you haven't used something in a year get rid of it Set aside an ongoing bag or box for charity. Each time it gets full, make a run to the local drop-off bin, or call a charitable organization that picks up items at your doorstep.

On garbage pickup mornings, all the trash should be in the container on the curb none in your house.

-Daryl Hoole and Daughters, "The Ultimate Career, The Art of Homemaking for Today"

Parenting Advice from King Benjamin

Mosiah 4: 14-15

14 And ye will not suffer your a children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.

15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.