How to Protect Your Children Against Pornography

I've discussed how we need to place picket fences around our homes.  But what about when the adversary gets past the fence?

I just had a friend reach out to me about a friend that contacted her (if you can follow that twice removed relationship).  My friend remembered a video that I sent out about how to talk to our children about pornography but couldn't find it to share with her friend.  I resent the video to her to share and realized even more people than I realize are dealing with this issue.  It breaks my heart that children and families are being attacked with this destructive thing.  I wanted to offer this mother more resources to help her family.   I have found this resource for families that have been effected by pornography.  The website Overcoming Pornography gives a lot of information and help for individuals and families. Please if you know someone that is struggling with pornography, there is help.

Of Grace and Faith

"The more we rely on the Savior’s grace, the more we will feel that we are on the track our Father in Heaven has intended for us."  Dieter F. Uchtdorf

As I was studying this morning this quote struck me.  It succinctly expresses a principle that has been in my heart and mind for a while lately.

Life is a summation of choices.  There have been times when I know my choices were guided by God and I was in the right place at the right time.  And then there are times when I haven't had God with me and I was just trying to do it all on my own.  But most difficult for me has been two moments when I felt the influence of the Lord to do a certain thing and I wanted to, but I hesitated. I didn't choose not to follow it, I just hesitated, out of fear, what if it works out, what if it doesn't and I hesitated.  And then the opportunity was gone, someone else acted immediately and it was gone.  It is one of my regrets in life.  And the hardest thing is that it doesn't just effect me, but it effects my children's lives too. The weight of this choice, is causing me to really self evaluate what I can do so that I don't do this again.  That next time I receive guidance I will act on it.

When I read this truth this morning it pointed the direction that I need to learn to take in my choices.  When I make my choices I seek guidance from the Lord, but I need to "rely on the Savior's grace".   I need to consciously have faith and put my fears aside and rely on the Savior's ability to make things work out.  I need to start with the small choices, intentionally practicing, to develop the faith to be able to rely on the Savior's grace for the big decisions.   And then I will be back on the track Heavenly Father has intended for me and my family.                

The complete address is "Of Regrets and Resolutions" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

Mistakes

Today I read this quote by Howard W Hunter which said, “If our lives and our faith are centered upon Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong.”

I needed this hope so badly. We each make mistakes in life, but I love that there is hope for correction through the Savior, Jesus Christ's atonement.  So I will repent of the past. Let it go. And center my life on my Savior and be comforted that "nothing can ever go permanently wrong" if I seek Him.

The Spiritual Effects of Depression

I've always struggled with anxiety and then after the birth of my first child I plummeted into the deep dark hole of Postpartum Depression.  Finally around 6 months a friend of mine encouraged me to talk to a doctor and I was able to get on some medication and start the slow climb back toward the light. It took me to between 9 months to 1 year postpartum before I finally felt normal again.

I just read an article titled Depression by Rebecca J. Clayton that hit home for me regarding everything I went through. She expressed her experience:

"I prayed constantly for heaven’s help to relieve the heaviness in my heart. When the sorrow remained, it seemed as if the Lord had abandoned me and for some reason I didn’t qualify for His love. This further fed my belief that I was unworthy of my blessings. Reading the scriptures also fueled my anxieties because each time I came across a verse that described what I felt, the passage had something to do with sin. I could not figure out what great transgression I had committed to deserve such torment, but the scriptural association of despair with iniquity seemed proof of my fallen state."

I remember searching for answers, guidance, and help spiritually but I couldn't think straight and I couldn't tell inspiration from my irrational thoughts.  It was awful. My mind would race so fast that by the time someone had finished asking me a question I couldn't remember what they had just said to be able to formulate an answer.  My mind was already 20 miles down the road from where their question had started my mind. It would take me all day to pack a diaper bag for the evening because I couldn't think through everything I would need.   I felt like a 2 dimensional person trying to live in a 3 dimensional world.  It took me years before I could talk about my postpartum experience.

Rebecca Clayton points out:

"It is essential to understand that such a spiritual crisis is not a result of spiritual weakness or lack of faith. Rather, depressive feelings and the resulting depressed view of one’s spirituality are usually caused by a chemical imbalance. Because our physical bodies and our spirits are necessarily connected (see Doctrine & Covenants 88:15), it can be common to feel the effects of a physical disorder in a spiritual way, especially in the case of depression, which alters our very perception of ourselves. Therefore, it is important to seek out the actual source of such feelings, especially when experiencing the often-distorting effects of depression." 

I've realized for me that I need to keep a balance in my life of adequate sleep, physical exercise, good nutrition, and spiritual nourishment.  I really enjoyed Ms. Clayton's discussion on Depression and feel like more needs to be said.  Now I can talk about postpartum depression and I hope that by doing so it can help some other new mom somewhere that is struggling to find peace.

 To read the rest of the article go to Depression by Rebecca J. Clayton.

Come and See Inside a Mormon Temple

On Saturday we took our children to see what the inside of a Mormon Temple looks like.  It was special for our children to see the inside of the temple because that is where mom and dad met and where we were married.  There is such an amazing feeling of peace there.  If you've ever wondered what a Temple looks like inside this opportunity doesn't come along often.  The Public Open House is only for two weeks and well worth the travel.  I promise you won't be disappointed!!!

Public Open House
     The general public, including children of all ages, is invited to attend an open house for the Tijuana Mexico Temple. Admission is free, and no tickets are required.
Dates:  Friday, November 13, through Saturday, November 28, 2015, except for Sundays.
Hours: Sunday:  Closed
Monday:  9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuesday–Saturday:  9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Location:  Near Macroplaza on Boulevard Insurgentes, Tijuana, Mexico – View Map
Dress:  Modest dress is requested.
Parking:  Parking attendants will guide you to an available parking space. Plan to arrive early to allow time for traffic and parking.
Tours:  Open house tours begin with a short video presentation providing an overview of temples and why they are significant to members of the Church. Following the video, a tour host will escort you through the temple, explaining the purpose of each room and answering questions as time allows. At the conclusion of the tour, you are invited to a reception area to have any further questions answered.

Fear Into Faith

Elder Uchtdorf stated in the women's conference in October 2014:

In other words, He not only knows what is best for you; He also anxiously wants you to choose what is best for you.

If you believe this in your hearts—if you truly believe the great mission of our Heavenly Father is to exalt and glorify His children and that He knows best how to do it—doesn’t it make sense to embrace and follow His commandments, even the ones that appear difficult? Should we not cherish the light posts He has given that guide us through the darkness and the trials of mortality? They mark the way back to our heavenly home! By choosing Heavenly Father’s path, you lay a divine foundation for your personal progress as a daughter of God that will bless you throughout your life.

Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.

His commandments are the loving instructions and the divine help for us to close the umbrella so we can receive the shower of heavenly blessings.

In the scriptures of the New Testament in Matthew Chapter 14 it states:

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

This is a parable about our own faith.  We seek to follow Christ and he invites us to step out of the boat and come to him.  However, so many times, just like Peter, we are a aware of all the commotion, storms, waves, and winds around us, and we take our eyes off of the Savior and begin to sink.  If we turn back to our Lord and cry "Lord, save me" like Peter, He will reach out and lift us up again.

Fear is a very powerful thing and can prevent us from receiving blessings the Lord desires us to have.  Right now in my life I'm trying to close the different umbrellas of fear that are blocking me from recieving blessings. It has been  hard to let go of some of my fears and have greater faith in the Lord that I will be blessed with opportunities.  It has been hard at times to also have faith in myself, that I can make it across the stormy sea and reach my Savior.  I have been praying out loud and simply talking with the Lord about each of my fears, big ones and small ones. And I feel he is listening. 

Look Unto Me in Every Thought

When I was in high school we found out my mom had breast cancer and being the oldest in the family a lot of responsibilities fell upon me.  It was challenging for me but the hardest part was the intense fear of losing my mom.  During that time I found some passages of scriptures that became my rock.  In the book of Doctrine & Covenants chapter 6:

33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
 34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
 35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.
 36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
 37 Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

When Christ said little flock, I felt like that was me and my four younger siblings.  I resolved to do everything good I could do to help take care of my family while my mom was having surgery and recovering.  I trusted that God would take care of my mom when there was nothing else I could do to help her.   And then verse 36, "Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not."  I hung this on my wall and repeated it in my mind over and over and over.  That verse got me through that experience.   We were very blessed that my mom had caught her cancer early and after surgery and some medications she is still with us today, 21 years later.

As is with the scriptures, each time you read them something new stands out to you despite having read it so many times before.  Today as I reread these verses His simple direction to us "Be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."  When life feels so complicated, the Savior simplifies it for us be faithful and keep my commandments, if your doing that, your going to be ok.