Another Sunday

This time Ada is throwing up... and Jer was giving the lesson in Sunday School, so here I am again.  When I'm not able to go to church I try to make an extra effort at reading and studying the gospel.  Currently I'm reading the Sherri Dew book 'No One Can Take Your Place'.  While it's not a replacement study of the scriptures, I've really enjoyed reading it.  (Another one that I have to plug for is 'The Continuous Atonement' by Brad Wilcox.  Amazing.)  Here are a couple of the quotes that have struck me...

"... the last days are not for the faint of heart of the spiritually out-of-shape.  There will be days when we feel defeated, exhausted, and plain old beat up by life's whiplash.  People we love will disappoint us -- and we will disappoint them.  We'll probably struggle with some kind of mortal appetite.  Some days it will feel as though the veil betwee heaven and earth is made of reinforced concrete.  And we may even face a crisis of faith.  In fact, we can count on trials that test our testimony and our faith." 

"... Men and women have complementary, not competing, responsibilities.  There is difference but not inequity..."

"Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly and definitely that.  It is the essence of who we are as women.  Motherhood defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits, talents, and tendencies our Father gave us... 'God planted within women something divine'...a sacred trust that gave woman an unparralleled role in helping His children keep their second estate." 

"Some mothers experience pain because of the children they have borne; others feel pain because they do not have the privilege of bearing children here in mortality."

"Every time we exercise our faith in the face of fear or discover a doctrinal insight in the scriptures or the temple, we are better able to build the kingdom of God.  Every time we discard a sin or a self-serving motive, every time we keep a trust or gain another glimpse of who we really are or speak truth, we are better able to build the kingdom of God.  Every time we help someone else strengthen faith or resolve, we build the kingdom of God.  In short, every small step we take to develop our God-given attributes of faith, knowledge, obedience, purity, integrity, identity, and courage makes us better able to build up the kingdom of God."

"None of us come to this earth to gain our worth; we brought it with us."