My new insights into the Word of Wisdom

I saw this five minute video a couple of days ago, and even though I've been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for nearly 50 years, I was surprised by some of the things it said. Over the years, I've seen the benefits in my life of eating lots of fruit and vegetables and only a little meat. Since I have problems with my adrenal glands, living a healthy lifestyle has greatly improved my quality of life. In fact, it has been startling for me to learn that, with my condition, if I had been having caffeine, alcohol, or smoking, I might not still be here. 

I've also thought a lot about healthy living, because I've been deeply affected by losing so many family members to lung cancer and alcoholism.  It has been so heartbreaking to not only witness their pain, but the suffering it has caused the rest of our family. As a young girl, I will never forget watching my Grandma Groom and my Grandpa Crane suffer with lung cancer and die early.

How God Guides Me

I watched this video several times.  It gives a lot to think about. Besides finding answers when I read scriptures and prayer, I like to wake up slowly in the morning and listen in my mind and heart.  At this quiet time of day before my mind is absorbed on daily tasks is a time when thoughts come to my mind that I know are answers from God to me.

Sometimes, I'll just have a feeling that I should do something, or that I shouldn't do it.  Sometimes I just know something.  It might be that a person needs me to send them an email right then.  Other times, I might just know what I should say to a grandchild, or I'll have an impression to write on my blog.  I feel this flash of knowledge is a special gift to me. It affirms God's love for me.

At other times, God sends books to me. I used to find a book just sitting out on a library shelf that was exactly what I needed to learn at that time. In these days of hightec, the book I need is suggested to me online. I just know that I need to read that book, and when I do, there is the answer I was looking for. This is a special way that I receive revelation. It makes me feel that God really knows me personally and understands how I learn.

It is so comforting to know that God is close by. He is there to help, guide, and comfort. He gives me strength, and fills my heart with love and peace.

What is The Book of Mormon?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-00-1010-what-is-the-book-of-mormon-a-60-second-overview?category=mormon-beliefs&lang=eng

A friend of mine asked, "If there is the Old Testament and the New Testament, where does the Book of Mormon fall into this group, or does it not?"

Yes, the Book of Mormon is one with the Old Testament and the New Testament. Throughout time, God has given revelation, light and knowledge, to those who would listen. His revelations and the history of the people He gave them to are recorded in books we call scripture. The Old Testament and New Testament record God's dealings with the Israelite people who lived in the Jerusalem area. 

Before Nebuchadnezzar took over the land of Israel, God sent many prophets to warn the people to repent, so He could protect them and save them from being conquered. The people killed many of these prophets, but one, Lehi, was told to take his family and flee. Eventually, Lehi, his family, and another family made it to the "Promised Land", the Americas around 600 BC. The Book of Mormon is the history of this branch of Israel. 

Why Does God Send Revelation Through Prophets?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-057-peters-revelation-to-take-the-gospel-to-the-gentiles?category=acts-of-the-apostles&lang=eng

A friend stated that she thought everyone should have the opportunity for revelation not just church leaders, and she felt the revelations to leaders were “too pragmatic”. This is my response.

Yes, I agree that there is a great power and strength that comes from reading the scriptures. The Lord sends us revelation for our lives as we read His word. It is incredible how each time we read a verse it can give us new insight and guidance. Having the scriptures is a great blessing in our lives.

I agree that the Lord sends revelation to anyone who is willing to receive it. I have experienced much revelation in my own life and I know you have too. This is a wonderful comfort and blessing. Revelation to guide the Lord's Church on the earth must come through those who the Lord has appointed to lead His Church, or there would just be confusion. This gives unity to the Church.

What Do I Feel about the New Ministering Program Announced in General Conference?

What do I feel about combining priesthood quorums in wards and about the new ministering program? Excited! I feel that we are being asked to raise to a new level, and that we are being helped to become people who will prepare the way for the Savior's second coming. 

I know there will be some who wonder how I can "blindly" follow the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don't wonder. I know I could never blindly follow anyone, but I'm not expected to simply follow. All members of The Church are encouraged to gain their own testimony of what changes the Lord wants to happen. This means

How Could I Believe in Prophets?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-04-15-we-need-living-prophets?lang=eng&_r=1

When I was in my mid-teens, I met a girl who was a a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There was something different about her and her family; a sense of strength, peace, and love. After asking her many questions about her faith, she suggested that I talk to the missionaries. I did and had many, many questions for them.

One thing that I believed was that God must speak with someone. I had always assumed that at least the Pope talked with God. I was very surprised and disappointed to learn that he doesn't even claim to receive direct revelation from God.

Help to Get out of Debt

In January of 1999, we came a sobering realization- without overtime money we could not pay our bills!  We rechecked the figures many times, but there was no denying the seriousness of our situation.  We were thousands of dollars in debt, without any savings, or enough regular income to cover our monthly expenses.

We started asking ourselves questions.  Mainly, how did we get into this predicament?  That was easy- we’d been raising several children and there had been many medical bills which even our good health insurance hadn’t covered.  Yes, there had been considerable expenses, but this really didn’t justify our debt.  We took a closer look at our spending habits.  Soon, it became apparent how we became so far in debt.  It really was easy.  We had been basing our financial decisions on emotion.  Our criteria was simply whether one of us “deserved” something, or with our income we “should” be able to afford it, or it was a “sale too good to pass up”.  “Get it if you really need it, but don’t buy it if you don’t really need it”, was our nebulous creed for managing finances.  We each bought what we thought we needed.  We spent money when we had it and charged when we didn’t.  We were amazed that we weren’t even deeper in debt!

A Warning that Saved My Life

An experience of my husband, Garrett Merrick.

When we were first married, I worked as a postal clerk in Salt Lake City, Utah. I attended Brigham Young University during the day, then worked the evening shift in Salt Lake City, Utah making the 45 mile drive home to Provo around midnight.

One winter night  I was busily sorting packages when there came to my mind a vivid picture of a portion of the road that I would be traveling on the way home, along with a strong feeling of danger. I continued to work for several more hours, then began my long drive home. In the light of my headlights I could see that the road was icy. As I crested a long hill and started down the other side, I saw that a car had slid off the road. It  was at the bottom of the deep depression between the two sides of the divided highway.

Concerned that they might need assistance, I pulled off onto the right shoulder. As I opened the car door and stepped out onto the icy road, I suddenly realized that this was the exact place I had seen earlier in my mind at work. Normally, I would have quickly crossed the several lanes of traffic to the car stranded in the middle divide area, but as I remembered the strong sense of danger I had felt about this section of the road, I didn’t cross  immediately. Instead, I paused and evaluated the traffic carefully. I noticed that there was a large truck approaching, but it was far distant. There would be plenty of time for me to reach the car in the middle divide area before it arrived, but still I hesitated.

I decided to wait until not only the truck passed, but there was no other traffic approaching before I began to cross the highway. Partway across I noticed that the road was far slicker than I had expected, and I would surely have fallen if I had hurried across as I had originally planned. After checking with the people in the car and being assured that help was on the way, I again carefully crossed the lanes of highway to my car. Sobered, I sat there for a moment realizing that if I had quickly crossed in front of the truck as I had intended, I would almost certainly have fallen and would not have been able to get up before the truck arrived. As I remember this experience, I am ever grateful for a warning that saved my life.

How Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Choose a Prophet?

A friend of mine granted that there seems to be a good man presently as the Prophet (we call him President) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her concern was that a person who wasn't as good might be voted prophet in the future. I don't worry because I know that the Lord chooses His Prophets. God always has. Each man has been prepared and tested all his life for his future calling as God's Prophet. Think of the soul wrenching test Abraham was given of offering his son as a sacrifice before he proved his worthiness. Think of the life of Moses, born an Israelite, but raised in the palace of the Pharaoh where he was taught court etiquette, given military experience, and Egyptian education. He was aptly prepared for his special mission to deal with the Egyptian rulers, lead the Israelite people to freedom, and govern them.  This article describes how one modern day Prophet was prepared for his future responsibilities.

Searching for Truth and Revelation from God

I just watched this video and really enjoyed it. I identified with Willford Woodruff's search for truth.

Wilford Woodruff's search for the true Church explains the Apostasy and need for the Restoration. It emphasizes four essential elements of the true Church that were lost because of the Great Apostasy. (16:33)

Do I, as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Believe in Traditional Religion?

A friend expressed to me how she could not believe in traditional religion, recounting Christianity's history of voting on doctrine, political maneuvering, conquest (Crusades), and cruelty (Inquisition). She also stated that though she did believe in God, she could not believe that one person's ideas about religion were better than another person's ideas. I agree completely with her.

What!? You are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. How could you not believe in traditional religion? Aren't you the most traditional, conservative religion around? 

We do believe in truth and do not give in when we know something is right, but our faith is not based on tradition. Throughout time there have been many good people who have set up religions based on what they believed was right. I think some have done a lot of good, but by the time I was eleven I knew that was not enough for me. I didn't want to choose between the many philosophies of men one that I liked the best and join that church. What I was looking for was revelation of truth from God.