Follow the Son

About this time of year I begin to get more serious about preparing myself for listening and watching LDS general conference. I love that it happens near the time Easter is being celebrated. I have been getting up at 7AM to take a class on BYU TV. Currently, we are studying the New Testament. I love marking my scriptures and even writing notes along the sides of the pages. It is exciting to hear new ideas and have cross-references. We are now in Acts. I am amazed at the strength of the apostles and their steadfastness in their testimony. I hope that I can, in my own small way, follow their example as well as the example of Christ.

I love sunflowers because they remind me to keep turning toward "the light of the world."

Scripture Study Suggestions

It will soon be time to watch/listen to General Conference.  Because I let myself get behind with my goal of reading all of last October conference talks, I have had to read two talks a day to catch up before next Saturday.  I have no idea why I let other things get in the way of my scripture study (and I do consider these talks from the Ensign to be current scripture).  Anyway, what a joyful experience to feel the spirit while reading.  I like these suggestions from Jay Jensen as printed in the Church News.  They have made my study more meaningful.

1. Pray.  "Make prayer a part of scripture study.  Pause to ask God for His Sprit to teach you."

2. Pay the right price.  "Whether you study and search the scriptures chronologically, by themes, or topics, or a combination, pay the right price; study search, ponder, liken, feast upon, compare, analyze and synthesize."

3. Look for patterns, themes, connections. "The footnotes and other scripture study aids are to assist you."

4. Create outlines and write scripture insights.  "Going through the scriptures regularly is good, but to have the scriptures go through you and having them change you comes with a price."

5. Mark, annotate and write in your scriptures. "Two purposes...are to (1) capture revelations you receive as you study, and (2) retrieve or recall what you have learned.  In a way, well-marked scriptures are a portable revelatory filing system."

6. Teach what you learn.  "By this you will demonstrate if you have truly mastered a topic.  Until I am able to articulate what I am studying, I confess that I have not  yet mastered it."

In order not to get overwhelmed, someone once told me to consider conference talks to be like a delicious  buffet, to take from it what you need at the time, knowing that there is plenty for all. It has worked for me.

Mother and Daughter

This photo was taken in the mid 40's. My mother was adjusting either the scarf, my hair or the sweater I was wearing on what must have been a somewhat cold day in Big Cottonwood Canyon. My father's sister, Lucille, had a cabin there and we had been invited. I don't remember if it was for a family activity or an overnight stay. My father must have taken the picture. I had an ambivalent relationship with both my parents. I like this picture because it shows the tender, loving side of my mother. She was basically a good person. I hope that I have carried on many of her positive qualities. At her best, she was spiritual and insightful. She must have been burdened by a lot of unspoken pain. She was probably clinically depressed as well as having asthma. I find that now I can't judge in the same way I have done in the past. I know too much of the circumstances which make people choose as they do. I am painfully aware of my own deficits. My plan is to continue on with life, moving toward healthier choices for myself. And I hope others will "cut me a lot of slack" as I muddle along. I like the scriptures which tell us that when we judge (as we must) the judgments need to be righteous ones. Clear-eyed and truthful. Full of truth.