January 31

Song: School Thy Feelings click here

Talk: School Thy Feelings O My Brother by Thomas S Monson
click here or watch below


Ponder:
Many years ago I read the following Associated Press dispatch which appeared in the newspaper: An elderly man disclosed at the funeral of his brother, with whom he had shared, from early manhood, a small, one-room cabin near Canisteo, New York, that following a quarrel, they had divided the room in half with a chalk line, and neither had crossed the line or spoken a word to the other since that day—62 years before. Just think of the consequence of that anger. What a tragedy!


May we make a conscious decision, each time such a decision must be made, to refrain from anger and to leave unsaid the harsh and hurtful things we may be tempted to say.

Twenty things we should say more often: click here or watch below

This has been an awesome experience to begin each day with a song. However next month I will choose one song for a week and try to better at bring the light of the gospel into my home by focus on one principle each week instead of each day.

January 30

Song: God Speed the Right click here

Talk  (with a great story): The Will Within by by Thomas S Monson click here



Ponder: Our responsibility is to rise from mediocrity to competence, from failure to achievement. Our task is to become our best selves. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final. In 1902, the poetry editor of the Atlantic Monthly returned a sheaf of poems to a 28-year-old poet with this curt note: “Our magazine has no room for your vigorous verse.” The poet was Robert Frost. In 1894, the rhetoric teacher at Harrow in England wrote on a 16-year-old’s report card, “A conspicuous lack of success.” The 16-year-old was Winston Churchill.

President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena” (Clifton Fadiman, ed., The American Treasury: 1455–1955, New York: Harper and Brothers, 1955, p. 689).

Scripture: 

January 29

Song: Hope of Israel click here



Talk: The Infinite Power of Hope click here

Scripture: 2 Nephi 31:20.
With Nephi I declare: “Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

Ponder:Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time. Hope... is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear."

Fun 1950's song: click here

Today is my dad's birthday. Happy Birthday in heaven dad. I hope you know I love & miss you!

January 28

Song: All Through The Night click here   or watch to the one at the end of this post

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,

All through the night

Guardian angels God will send thee,

All through the night;

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,

I my loved ones' watch am keeping,

All through the night.

Angels watching, e'er around thee,

All through the night

Midnight slumber close surround thee,

All through the night

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and vale in slumber sleeping

I my loved ones' watch am keeping,

All through the night

While the moon her watch is keeping,

All through the night

While the weary world is sleeping,

All through the night

O'er thy spirit gently stealing,

Visions of delight revealing

Breathes a pure and holy feeling,

All through the night.

Though I roam a minstrel lonely

All through the night

My true harp shall praise sing only

All through the night

Love's young dream, alas, is over

Yet my strains of love shall hover

Near the presence of my lover

All through the night

Hark, a solemn bell is ringing

Clear through the night

Thou, my love, art heavenward winging

Home through the night

Earthly dust from off thee shaken

Soul immortal shalt thou awaken

With thy last dim journey taken

Home through the night

January 27

Song: "Lord, We Ask Thee Ere We Part"

Lyrics

1. Lord, we ask thee ere we part,

Bless the teachings of this day.

Plant them deep in ev’ry heart,

That with us they’ll ever stay.

2. In the innocence of youth,

We would all thy laws fulfill.

Lead us in the way of truth.

Give us strength to do thy will.

3. Father, merciful and kind,

While we labor for the right,

May we in thy service find

Sweetest pleasure, pure delight.

4. All our follies, Lord, forgive.

Keep us from temptations free.

Help us evermore to live

Lives of holiness to thee.

Talk: "Act in All Holiness" click here

January 26

Song: Hum Your Favorite Hymn 

traditional  click here 

unusual voice music video click here

words & images for teaching click here

Talk: Deiter F. Uchtdorf   Of Regrets and Resolutions  click here

Ponder: Resolve to spend more time with those you love.

                   Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person Gods wants you to be.

                   Resolve to find happiness, reguardless of your circumstances.

January 25

Song: Come Unto Jesus

January 24

Song: Father Up Above click here

Talk: The Love of God by Dieter Uchtdorf  click here for the full talk or or watch it in two portions of below

Songs: mentioned in in the talk 1. click here   2. click here.    3. click here

Scripture: Matthew 22:35-40

Ponder: 
God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration.

No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!

For what we love determines what we seek. 

What we seek  determines what we think and do.

What we think and do determines who we are- and who we will become.

January 23

Song: The Call of Love from the "Sing With Me" Songbook 1951

Far above earth's tumult, The call of love we hear.
Shall it's gentle pleading fall on a heedless ear?
O hear, O hear, the call the call, o hear the call of love.
The call of love is to mercy and pardon and peace,
The call of love is to service that never shall cease,
Till we shall enter that land of promise where true joys abound,
Then onward press, my comrades, we are gaining ground.

No Talk up and at the Temple by 7 am
Then off to work.

January 22

  

Song: I Need Thee Every Hour 
Traditional choir  click here
Unique Acappella  click here

Talk: Turn To The Lord click here

Ponder:  
Elder Richard G Scott taught this eternal truth: "True
enduring happiness with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the most challenging difficulties comes from a life centered in Jesus Christ...There is no guarantee of overnight results, but there is absolute assurance that, in the Lord's time, solutions will come, peace will prevail and emptiness will be filled." 

Tender Mercies:
When I was Relief Society President often I would wake early from an perplexing dream or night mare. After praying and going about my day I would be impressed to call a sister and ask after their day. Usually that person or someone they knew needed the help. Sometimes just from me but more often from others. So more phone calls or a visit to got them the help they needed. This morning I awoke with the same feelings. However, I believe the one needing help was me. The day may provide me the opportunity to help someone in need and in turn I can see my problems become less overpowering. Oh, how I need the Lord!
                                                                         

January 21

 

Song: Men Are That They Might Have Joy Click here

Talk: Finding Joy In The Journey click here by Thomas S Monson 

Ponder:
:..when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth."

Scripture: John 16:22  

"...your joy no man taketh from you."

Alternate Song: Joy to the World click here

Video: Joy to the World- A Christmas Story click here

January 20

Song: Now Thank We All Our God 

(I've been a bit "down" and realized I've been so focused on improving that I forgot to love and appreciate me and others, therefore this song is a reminder to be grateful so God's love can come into my heart and life.)

Talk:Thanks Be to God click here

(given by Russel M Nelson April 2012) 

Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing: (with some lovely artwork ) 
click here

A congregation singing: (shown at the end of "Escape To The Country" television show) click here


Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mother's arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is our today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;   
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed  
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next.
*LDS Hymnal words
(And keep is in His love, And guide us day and night
And free us from all ills, Protects us by his might.) 
This is the end in the Hymnal

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
Fore thus it was, is now and shall be evermore.

January 19

Song: You Can make the Pathway Bright click here

Talk: The Hope of God's Light click here

Ponder: 

"Isn't it wonderful to know that we won't have to be perfect to experience the blessing and gifts of our Heavenly Father? We don't have to wait to cross the finish line to receive God's blessings. In fact, the heaven's begin to part and the blessing of heaven begin to distill upon us with the very first steps we take toward the light. 

The perfect place to begin is exactly where you are right now. It doesn't matter how unqualified you may think you are or how far behind others you may feel. The very moment you you begin to seek your Heavenly Father, in that moment, the hope of His light will begin to awaken, enliven, and ennoble your soul. The darkness may not dissipate all at once, but surely as night gives way to dawn, the light will come."

Song:You Are My Sunshine click here

            

January 18

Song: Love One Another click here
 

Message:    "A Doorway Called Love" by Thomas S. Monson in 1987 Click here
Ponder:

Robert Woodruff, an executive in a former generation, traversed America with a message which he delivered to civic and business groups. The outline was simple, the message brief:

 The five most important words are these: I am proud of you.

 The four most important words are these: What is your opinion?

 The three most important words are these: If you please.

 The two most important words are these: Thank you.

 To Mr. Woodruff’s list I would add, “The single most important word is love.” 

Song: Love Makes The World Go 'Round Click here 
  

Go and do:  Check out the Just Serve website and volunteer.  Click here 

                                                                                                                                                                                             

January 17

Song: Lord Accept Our True Devotion

Talk I listened to: Standards and Tolerance 

Video I watched: Go and Sin No More

January 16

Song for today is: Testimony

Because I have behaving a certain way which I think is logical today I understand that coming from the heart with love is how I should approach a special person in my life who doesn't feel loved by me This verse is my focus:  My eyes are wet; my heart is full.

                                               The Spirit speaks today.

                                                         O Lord, wilt thou my life renew

                                              And in my bosom stay.

While walking on my treadmill I listened the Sister Susan K. Bednar speak at a BYUI devotional in 2001. Her message was entitled Heart.click here to hear it 

This is the text:

For many months now I've been pondering about the word "heart." One of the first thoughts that popped into my mind was an experience I had as a young girl. I'm sure many of you have had a similar experience. Go back with me to your first or second grade classroom. You are sitting at your desk with a pencil, a pair of scissors, and several squares of red construction paper in front of you. With much care, you fold the paper and then draw half of a heart along the fold. You are making Valentine hearts to attach to a paper-covered shoe box that will house all the special cards and treats you will receive from your classmates. Is this memory vaguely familiar?
Not all the hearts you cut out are perfect. Some are long and skinny. Others are a bit flat looking and somewhat misshapen. In fact, they look more like dog ears than hearts. If you don't cut deep enough into the top of the fold, some hearts turn out to be way too plump. About the only way to create the ideal heart is to trace the teacher's perfect pattern.
As you keep the shapes of these hearts in mind, I'd like to share four experiences I've had with Ricks College students and relate these situations to a parable from the New Testament. Though it is the parable of the sower, it's really a parable about hearts. Seeds,which symbolize the word of God, are sown into four different places--by the wayside, on stony ground, in with thorns, and on good soil. The places where the seeds fall represent the hearts of men. Some seeds grow, others don't (see Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8). The experiences I will share about Ricks College students will illustrate how four students receive the word of God into their hearts. As you will see, some harden their hearts and cast the word aside while others seek with all their hearts to follow the Master.

Experience #1

A caring student asked my suggestions one day of how she could help her inactive sister. This sister had fallen away from the Church and wanted nothing more to do with it. As the student explained her sister's tragic situation, I simply said, "I wish your sister could come to Ricks College. This is such a great place for young people to gain a testimony. I just know that would help." With a sad face the student responded, "Sister Bednar, my sister has been a student at Ricks College."
A sower goes out to sow seed. Some seed falls by the wayside and is eaten by the birds. Maybe the heart that is long and skinny could represent this sister. She hears the word of God. But with no room in her heart for the gospel, she allows Satan to take the word from her heart, and she falls away.

Experience #2

A young woman sought out my husband and me in a large crowd of people. Choking back the tears, she said, "President and Sister Bednar, I just want to tell you how much I love Ricks College. I haven't always been able to say that because I got into some trouble while I was a student at Ricks and was asked to leave. At that time I hated Ricks College. I wandered down the wrong path for a couple of years, but I'm attending institute classes where I live and am trying to come back into activity. I know now what I didn't know then. Ricks College is a special place."
A sower sows seed that lands in a stony place with little soil. When the seed starts to sprout and grow, it is without root and is scorched by the hot sun. The shallow, misshapen heart could represent this young woman who doesn't let the word of God take deep root in her heart. When the heat of temptation comes, she makes poor choices and turns her heart from the gospel.
Experience #3
In a misguided debate about R-rated movies, a young man on our campus wrote:

I am 22 years old, a returned missionary, and I watch R-rated movies. To be honest, I don't plan on not watching them anytime soon.
Why do students feel it necessary to preach hellfire and damnation to those of us who do watch these movies? For the most part, we are all responsible adults. Some . . . have essentially called me and other students sinners.
I do not believe I will burn in hell for watching R-rated movies, and I don't think anyone else will, either. I respect what the prophets say about the subject, but it is still my choice and I am willing to take responsibility for it.

A sower goes out to sow seeds. Some fall on ground where they are choked out by thorns and become unfruitful. Perhaps the plump heart could represent this returned missionary who is puffed up in an attitude of pride and distracted by worldly pleasures.

Experience #4

A concerned young woman came to me after a meeting and tearfully shared her troubles. It was evident after a few moments of listening that this student had many anxieties. She had difficulties at home, problems in her classes, and lacked any feeling of worth. I struggled to find the right words to encourage her. As we parted, I noticed one of her roommates had been waiting for her in the hall nearby. This loving roommate put her arm around the shoulder of this anxious young woman and together they walked back to their apartment. I admired the love of that roommate. Certainly, living with this distressed young woman would not have been easy. But she desperately needed and deserved the unselfish love of a caring roommate.
A sower goes out to sow seed. Some seeds fall on good ground, grow well, and bring forth fruit. Perhaps the heart you traced from your teacher's pattern could represent this loving roommate who hears the word of God, patterns her life after the teachings of Jesus, and does good works.
We, too, can follow this pattern. All hearts can be changed. A heart that turns away from the gospel need only exercise a particle of faith for the Savior's word to start growing again. A hard and shallow heart can remove the stones of hatred, rebellion, and defiance and replace them with the soil of soft, sincere pleadings for forgiveness. The heart puffed up in pride can weed out the thorns of worldly lusts and enticements and replace them with a desire to follow the counsel of living prophets. A heart patterned after the Savior can continue to bring forth works of righteousness. We can all yield our hearts to God if we have the courage and the desire to make necessary changes.
There is one more heart I would like to discuss today. Please come back with me again to your elementary classroom. Perhaps you aren't listening carefully to the instructions of your teacher when she explains how to cut your paper heart. Maybe you are daydreaming about the Valentine that you might receive from the handsome little boy or cute girl who sits across the aisle from you. Not thinking, you cut your heart on the open edges of the paper and are surprised to find your heart is not joined in the middle, but consists of two halves. This heart needs some tape from your teacher to hold it together.
The scriptures refer to this particular heart as a broken heart. We are commanded to offer for our sacrifice unto the Lord in righteousness a broken heart and a contrite spirit (see D&C 59:8). A broken heart is one that is humble and easily led. It sets aside pride and selfish ambition to follow Jesus. It recognizes a dependence upon and a need for the Savior's atonement.
In closing, I testify that just as the tape of our teacher could mend our paper hearts, the tender tape of the Savior's mercy can mend and heal our spiritual hearts. Christ knows our desires and intent as we try earnestly to improve and seek for a mighty change of heart. He stands at the door and knocks. All we have to do is open our hearts and let him enter, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

January 15

Song: Guide Me to Thee

click here

The old blue Hymnal (#309)calls it Jesus My Savior True

The difficult events in life, the challenges, the hurt, and the sin can take us into dark places. The only way out is choosing to be led by our Savior Jesus Christ and repenting, if needed. 

Not all darkness is a result of sin. At times it is the result of choices others around you are making. Other times it is just the way things go in this Telestial, imperfect world we live in.  

But it is essential to have as our guide the Son Of God and His companion, The Holy Ghost. Christ is the truth, the light, the peace, the love and the way to travel on our journey back to Heavenly Father. I'll let this song sink deep into my soul and remember he loves me and will never leave my alone. He IS "my savior true." For this I am grateful.

January 14

Song: Choose the Right Way click here

Today is my 1st  day with my new Primary class, CTR 6. It is also my first day back in the Primary in over 5 years. This is the song we are learning (if they don't already know it) so it is running through my mind this morning.

I haven't always chosen the right way of thinking things, saying things, or doing things. But because I know I am a precious child of Heavenly Father I know if I repent I will be forgiven and be clean. Today I can review my week during the sacrament and have complete forgiveness through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Love can help me make better choices. 

1.  As I love myself, I will think with love it will invite the spirit to be with me to think lofty thoughts.
2.  As I love others, I will think and choose to say things that will inspire or uplift others and show my love for them.
3.  As I love the Lord, I will keep the commandments, listen to the Holy Ghost and do what the Lord would have me do.

  Story by L. Tom Perry click here

  

January 13

Song: God's Daily Care

click here

As I watch the rising sun, when the day has just begun. 

I am thinking of the love that comes daily from above.

Father, turn thine ear to me, let me offer thanks to thee,

For thy wise and tender care of thy children eve-'ry where.

No profound thoughts today. I'm just grateful I woke in a warm bed knowing I had food to eat and clothes to wear. 

Grateful that I didn't have to cook over a campfire like some of my ancestors. Or walk many miles through snow, or heat, or rain then sleep in a wagon or on the ground and repeat it each day for weeks.

Grateful for my parents who raised me to love the gospel, do what I say I will do, be on time, don't be offended "kill them with kindness," and "imitation is the sincerest for on flattery." For living in a beautiful town and letting us become what we wanted to be come. For loving me the best way they knew how. And especially the gift of singing. I love them.

Grateful for my husband, children, and grandchildren. They each add joy to my life. For their love, for their support, for each of them being contributing members of this challenging world. I cherish and love them.

Grateful for the gospel that gives me direction in my life, a place to use my talents and serve, for friends I have acquired by serving with the. Grateful for the Prophet who keeps the church on tract with gospel principles. 

Grateful for the most important person in my life: Jesus Christ, the son of the living god, MY savior, MY friend, MY advocate with the father. For Him providing me forgiveness, for Him providing my eternal life. For His love, and so much more. Oh, how I love Him!

Grateful for this amazing world of flowers, trees, mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans. For sunrises and sunsets, for sun, moon, and stars, for seasons, for all  kinds of weather. For small playful fresh water otters which are my favorite animals and all other animals , insects, birds, and creations of God.

Grateful to be alive to experience all this! My heart wants to fly with love and shout to everyone how blessed I am.

Here is a companion song that is in my mind quite often. click here

Fly With Love- January 12

Song: "Where love is"

For the remaining days of January I'm going to focus on love, instead of jumping around on different ideas. There is much for me to ponder this month.

I listened to D. Todd Christensen's talk "Abide in my love" while walking on my treadmill. I got the impression that love is different than I have previously thought. 

Quote from the talk:

The Bible tells us that “God is love" He is the perfect embodiment of love, and we rely heavily on the constancy and universal reach of that love. As President Thomas S. Monson has expressed: “God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.”

There are many ways to describe and speak of divine love. One of the terms we hear often today is that God’s love is “unconditional.” While in one sense that is true, the descriptor unconditional appears nowhere in scripture. Rather, His love is described in scripture as “great and wonderful love,” “perfect love,” “redeeming love,” and “everlasting love.” These are better terms because the word unconditional can convey mistaken impressions.