Women's Conference Talk by Lindi Salmon
"In 1815, the Indonesian island of Sumbawa was lush and green with recent rain. Families were preparing for the dry season ahead, as they had every year for generations, cultivating rice paddies in the shadow of a volcano called Tambora.
"On the evening of April 10, the whole mountain exploded. Three fiery plumes shot skyward, merging into one massive blast.
"The eruption caused temperatures in India to drop, and cholera killed thousands, destroying families. In fertile Chinese valleys, summer snowstorms replaced a normally mild climate and flooding rains destroyed crops. In Europe, food supplies dwindled, leading to starvation and panic.
"The eruption of Tambora affected weather in North America through the following year. Spring gave way to snowfall and killing frosts, and 1816 passed into memory as the year without a summer." (Saints)
Now I want to tell you about my own year without a summer. Nine months ago, almost to the hour, I was lying in an ICU bed. During the previous 24 hours, I had suffered the final stroke that was part of what doctors later called a shower of strokes. I had lost many abilities, including being able to walk, eat, or even really lift my head.
I had been Life Flighted to a different hospital and listened as doctors had explained to my sweet husband that if current treatments did not work, the only option left was brain surgery. This only had two outcomes, further injury or death. As I lay there, I listened to nurses describe my situation. Being a nurse myself, I never thought I would see a patient live through this--let alone live through it myself.
I was at a complete loss. I remember closing my eyes thinking, “What next?” in complete despair.
Showing posts with label enduring to the end. Show all posts
Showing posts with label enduring to the end. Show all posts
Video 1: I Choose to Believe
Members of our stake explain why they choose to believe as they go through challenges and trials of life. Video 1 of 2.
I Choose to Believe in the Power of Christ's Atonement
Women's Conference Talk by Miriam Franson
I sat at a lunch recently with some dear friends who shared their discouragement with their college-age daughters’ struggles to find men to date who do not or have not had issues with pornography. They just don't want their daughters to have to deal with that! I am sure we all can relate to deep feelings of concern for how battles with addiction today affect not only now, but the marriages and families of our children and grandchildren.
As I sat at that lunch and in other circumstances where the question, “Can people really change? Truly overcome and begin new?” is wrestled with, I’ve wished I knew how to share my own depth of belief in the power of the Savior’s Atonement to do just that. I’ve felt His power help me move past things in my own life, and have seen it transform the lives of people I dearly love.
I have come to believe that there are many more hopeful stories than we realize sitting all around us, but out of loyalty, self-preservation, and a desire not to have it be the headline of life moving forward, we don’t hear them.
When a single friend of mine moved here from out of state, I asked her if there was anything tough for her about the move to Utah. She said, “I don’t know if people here really believe that the Atonement works. They talk about it, but do they really believe that it can change lives?”
I sat at a lunch recently with some dear friends who shared their discouragement with their college-age daughters’ struggles to find men to date who do not or have not had issues with pornography. They just don't want their daughters to have to deal with that! I am sure we all can relate to deep feelings of concern for how battles with addiction today affect not only now, but the marriages and families of our children and grandchildren.
As I sat at that lunch and in other circumstances where the question, “Can people really change? Truly overcome and begin new?” is wrestled with, I’ve wished I knew how to share my own depth of belief in the power of the Savior’s Atonement to do just that. I’ve felt His power help me move past things in my own life, and have seen it transform the lives of people I dearly love.
I have come to believe that there are many more hopeful stories than we realize sitting all around us, but out of loyalty, self-preservation, and a desire not to have it be the headline of life moving forward, we don’t hear them.
When a single friend of mine moved here from out of state, I asked her if there was anything tough for her about the move to Utah. She said, “I don’t know if people here really believe that the Atonement works. They talk about it, but do they really believe that it can change lives?”
Hang on When Everything Says Let Go
"There are many times that life has no obvious answer at hand. It is in those moments that I choose to believe. I find strength to hold on. More often than not, I have found that it is in those defining moments of choice that the refiner's fire of sanctification occurs. To hang on when everything around you says to let go is paramount to listening to what is occurring in your heart" - Barbara P.
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Trusting in the Lord Through a Lifetime
This talk was given at the 2019 stake women's conference.
by Jannelle L. LaFontaine
Prayer and personal revelation are a very private and sacred part of our lives. Even on a daily basis, we are engaged in these covenant privileges. In Doctrine and Covenants 90:24 we are taught to search, pray, believe, walk uprightly, and remember our covenants.
I would like to share a story with you that I believe exemplifies these principles, especially prayer and personal revelation.
In a small rural farming community in Aroostook County, Maine, it was 1956. One afternoon, two young missionaries from Utah knocked on the door of Bob and Marian and asked if they knew anything about the Mormon church. Their answer was no, and thus began their conversion. Bob was a very quiet man and Marian was incredibly curious. She asked a lot of questions, and the answers rang true to both of their hearts. They were baptized. That was that!
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| Image from LDS.org. Used with permission. |
Prayer and personal revelation are a very private and sacred part of our lives. Even on a daily basis, we are engaged in these covenant privileges. In Doctrine and Covenants 90:24 we are taught to search, pray, believe, walk uprightly, and remember our covenants.
I would like to share a story with you that I believe exemplifies these principles, especially prayer and personal revelation.
In a small rural farming community in Aroostook County, Maine, it was 1956. One afternoon, two young missionaries from Utah knocked on the door of Bob and Marian and asked if they knew anything about the Mormon church. Their answer was no, and thus began their conversion. Bob was a very quiet man and Marian was incredibly curious. She asked a lot of questions, and the answers rang true to both of their hearts. They were baptized. That was that!
Doubting Your Doubts
Labels:
enduring to the end,
faith,
hope,
testimony,
Women's Conference 2019
This talk was given at the 2019 stake women's conference.
by Ashley Simmons
I am honored to speak today. The topic I was given was doubting your doubts, taken from Elder Uchtdorf's General Conference address Come, Join with Us. I hope that my words will in some way lift the burden that doubt can place on hearts and shoulders.
One of the most powerful ways we can doubt our doubts is by changing the way we react to them. Specifically, we need to have less fear and shame about doubt. For example, a few years ago I read a moving history about a Jewish family in England and the struggles they faced during WWII. One day a teenage son came to his father, who was the rabbi of the community, with a confession that burdened his heart: "Dad," he said, "I don’t know if I believe there is a God!"
His father's reaction was extreme, as if he were Luke Skywalker and had just been told Darth Vader was really his father. The rabbi screamed with great passion, "NOOOO!!!" and wept and wailed at his son’s confession. The son was so freaked out by his father’s reaction that he actually ran away and joined an atheistic Communist party.
This father's fearful and shaming reactions to his sons doubt gave doubt so much power that it literally turned his son into an atheist. But what if he could have looked at doubt differently and feared it and shamed it less?
What if instead of screaming "No!" to his son saying "Dad, I don’t know if I believe there is a God," the father had said, "Son, I am glad you are pondering the existence of God. God has placed that question of His existence in every one of His son’s and daughter's hearts to make us wrestle, to make us ponder, to make us diligently search for Him! Son, I can promise you that if you will take your natural questions and search for Him, you will find Him!’’
by Ashley Simmons
I am honored to speak today. The topic I was given was doubting your doubts, taken from Elder Uchtdorf's General Conference address Come, Join with Us. I hope that my words will in some way lift the burden that doubt can place on hearts and shoulders.
One of the most powerful ways we can doubt our doubts is by changing the way we react to them. Specifically, we need to have less fear and shame about doubt. For example, a few years ago I read a moving history about a Jewish family in England and the struggles they faced during WWII. One day a teenage son came to his father, who was the rabbi of the community, with a confession that burdened his heart: "Dad," he said, "I don’t know if I believe there is a God!"
His father's reaction was extreme, as if he were Luke Skywalker and had just been told Darth Vader was really his father. The rabbi screamed with great passion, "NOOOO!!!" and wept and wailed at his son’s confession. The son was so freaked out by his father’s reaction that he actually ran away and joined an atheistic Communist party.
This father's fearful and shaming reactions to his sons doubt gave doubt so much power that it literally turned his son into an atheist. But what if he could have looked at doubt differently and feared it and shamed it less?
What if instead of screaming "No!" to his son saying "Dad, I don’t know if I believe there is a God," the father had said, "Son, I am glad you are pondering the existence of God. God has placed that question of His existence in every one of His son’s and daughter's hearts to make us wrestle, to make us ponder, to make us diligently search for Him! Son, I can promise you that if you will take your natural questions and search for Him, you will find Him!’’
Remembering to Rejoice in Our Covenants
This talk was given at the 2019 stake women's conference.By Tiffany McMinn
Just one year ago, in his first public message after being called as the new prophet, President Nelson stated that his new presidency wanted “to begin with the end in mind” as they met with media in the annex of the Salt Lake Temple. There, President Nelson said if we were “faithful to covenants made in a temple [it will] qualify us for the greatest gift of God—that of eternal life.”
In this broadcast, and specifically directing the last part of his address to “each member of the Church,” President Nelson used the phrase “covenant path” three times in three different ways:
1-Keep on the covenant path
2-stay on the covenant path
3-return to the covenant path
Now that it has been a year, and with so many changes, do you feel like this meme on the left?
I think we could add a number 4 to the list from President Nelson: “Keep up with President Nelson on the covenant path.”
Obviously, being on the covenant path is something our dear prophet feels we need to be reminded of. I noticed this past October conference the phrase “covenant path” was being repeated over and over again. I looked it up and found that the phrase “covenant path” was used 28 times.
As We Keep Our Covenants, Christ Builds Us Up
This talk was given at the 2019 stake women's conference.
By Emma Nelson, a Laurel
I love the theme of "Rejoicing on the Covenant Path" because it is so important and applicable throughout our lives. Heavenly Father has asked us to do our best to keep our covenants, and through them comes joy. It is not always easy to find joy, especially during trials or hard times, but we need to trust our Heavenly Father and do what he has asked of us.
President Nelson said, “The highest compliment is to be called a covenant keeper.” This should be something we strive for, not because it is a compliment of the highest, but by keeping our covenants we show God how important our relationship with Him is to us.
Not too long ago I wasn’t sure if the Church was true. Every Sunday I would grudgingly go to church to renew my baptismal covenants and try to learn of Christ, not even knowing if He was there for me. After months of struggling, I was writing my frustration and feeling in my journal but got an overwhelming feeling of peace and love. I knew my Savior because I was renewing my baptismal covenants as I was trying to learn of Him. He has such a deep love for all of us that He will NEVER leave us on our own.
I’ve come to learn through trials that Christ lets us doubt to build us up stronger than we were before. Think about building muscles. As you work out your muscles, they are torn before they rebuild stronger. I feel we are like this as well. Sometimes we doubt, are torn, or broken, but by us always keeping our covenants, Christ helps to rebuild us stronger than ever.
By Emma Nelson, a Laurel
I love the theme of "Rejoicing on the Covenant Path" because it is so important and applicable throughout our lives. Heavenly Father has asked us to do our best to keep our covenants, and through them comes joy. It is not always easy to find joy, especially during trials or hard times, but we need to trust our Heavenly Father and do what he has asked of us.
President Nelson said, “The highest compliment is to be called a covenant keeper.” This should be something we strive for, not because it is a compliment of the highest, but by keeping our covenants we show God how important our relationship with Him is to us.
Not too long ago I wasn’t sure if the Church was true. Every Sunday I would grudgingly go to church to renew my baptismal covenants and try to learn of Christ, not even knowing if He was there for me. After months of struggling, I was writing my frustration and feeling in my journal but got an overwhelming feeling of peace and love. I knew my Savior because I was renewing my baptismal covenants as I was trying to learn of Him. He has such a deep love for all of us that He will NEVER leave us on our own.
I’ve come to learn through trials that Christ lets us doubt to build us up stronger than we were before. Think about building muscles. As you work out your muscles, they are torn before they rebuild stronger. I feel we are like this as well. Sometimes we doubt, are torn, or broken, but by us always keeping our covenants, Christ helps to rebuild us stronger than ever.
I Drew on My Daughter's Strength
Labels:
blessings of service,
caregiver,
charity,
death,
enduring to the end,
family,
medical issues
by Teresa Meldrum
The last Thursday before school got out, I found out that I had cancer. The following Thursday I found out that my mother had five brain tumors and was expected to live only four to eight weeks longer. She would require 24-hour care.
My brother had been directed by the Lord to move his family here from another state without knowing why he was to be here. He and his family got here three days before Mom’s tumors were found. We have a large family, and each one of the married couples came to stay with Mom for two days at a time. It made it possible for Mom to stay in her own home until the very end of her life.
I was not physically strong enough to do what my other siblings and their spouses did even though I had the greatest desire to be with my mother. Almost every day of that three-month summer, my 13-year-old daughter and I would spend as much time at my mom’s home as possible.
The last Thursday before school got out, I found out that I had cancer. The following Thursday I found out that my mother had five brain tumors and was expected to live only four to eight weeks longer. She would require 24-hour care.
I was not physically strong enough to do what my other siblings and their spouses did even though I had the greatest desire to be with my mother. Almost every day of that three-month summer, my 13-year-old daughter and I would spend as much time at my mom’s home as possible.
I Just Look Around to See His Goodness
Labels:
enduring to the end,
faith,
hope,
Jesus Christ,
stories of faith
Who is this man Jesus?
I've asked myself that question throughout my life. I've studied His life, His teaching, His grace. I've read and understood His perfect progression through the scriptures. I know He lived. I know He lives.
However, knowing this versus feeling it on a constant basis has been a struggle for me. That burning sense of infinite hope dims at times. I have to remind myself often if I truly believe in His Power to Save. Not to save mankind, but to save me, especially to save me from my self-doubt, to save me from my unworthiness, and to save me from my fears.
Why do I not rely on Him? Why do I not trust in Him? He is the Savior of the World, and yet I doubt.
Hope and faith, to me, is being given the strength to endure what the Lord requires us to do.
When my faith fails me, I have to reflect back on experiences when I did actually put my faith and hope in the Lord. If I do this, I am able to reflect back on experience after experience of when the Lord has touched my life. This might have been through a tender mercy, a prompting, a feeling, or a friend. When I look for His power and influence, I find it. I just have to look.
From Depression to Joy and Consolation
Labels:
adversity,
depression,
enduring to the end,
faith,
Jesus Christ,
prayer,
stories of faith,
temple
"Most of us experience some measure of what the scriptures call “the furnace of affliction” (Isa. 48:10; 1 Ne. 20:10). Some are submerged in service to a disadvantaged family member. Others suffer the death of a loved one or the loss or postponement of a righteous goal like marriage or childbearing. Still others struggle with personal impairments or with feelings of rejection, inadequacy, or depression. Through the justice and mercy of a loving Father in Heaven, the refinement and sanctification possible through such experiences can help us achieve what God desires us to become' (Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, October 2000)
by Jennifer Hughes
Depression is a topic that a lot of us feel uncomfortable talking about. Even those of us who struggle with it can wonder: Is it my fault? Is it a chemical or hormonal imbalance? Am I just not trying hard enough to feel good? Why do I have to endure this?
This is a sensitive and very personal topic, and I don't claim to have all the answers. Many books have been written about causes, effects, and treatments of depression, and this isn't the place for those discussions. I can only speak from my own experience--that what keeps me going each day is my faith in Jesus Christ and my knowledge that He knows the plan for my life and that there is a purpose for all of the refining pain we go through--that we come to know the Lord through our trials. I pray that something I say might speak to you as I honestly share a little of how I deal with this ongoing struggle in my life.
This last spring I found that the effects of my antidepressant medication were wearing off. This has happened to me before and usually it means trying new medications and waiting and trying to figure out if I feel better or not. It can be a time-consuming and difficult process. I had been thinking a lot about the atonement and wondering if I was truly relying on Christ and His grace and trusting Him like I should. In answer to my prayers about what to do, I felt like instead of trying a different medication immediately that I needed to step out onto that ledge of faith and trust that the Lord would be there for me and carry me.
by Jennifer Hughes
This is a sensitive and very personal topic, and I don't claim to have all the answers. Many books have been written about causes, effects, and treatments of depression, and this isn't the place for those discussions. I can only speak from my own experience--that what keeps me going each day is my faith in Jesus Christ and my knowledge that He knows the plan for my life and that there is a purpose for all of the refining pain we go through--that we come to know the Lord through our trials. I pray that something I say might speak to you as I honestly share a little of how I deal with this ongoing struggle in my life.
This last spring I found that the effects of my antidepressant medication were wearing off. This has happened to me before and usually it means trying new medications and waiting and trying to figure out if I feel better or not. It can be a time-consuming and difficult process. I had been thinking a lot about the atonement and wondering if I was truly relying on Christ and His grace and trusting Him like I should. In answer to my prayers about what to do, I felt like instead of trying a different medication immediately that I needed to step out onto that ledge of faith and trust that the Lord would be there for me and carry me.
"Every Trial Is Necessary for Your Salvation"
Labels:
adversity,
caregiver,
death,
divorce,
enduring to the end,
faith,
family,
medical issues,
relief,
stories of faith,
temple
by Patty Denhalter
As I begin to share my experiences, joys, love, trials, and testimony, I am so grateful for the trust Heavenly Father has given me, as His daughter. For every joy and happiness I have experienced and the many trials I have gone through, I am thankful. Most of them have been difficult and emotional from early in my life to now, as I am growing older. 
I often think about Mary, Jesus’ earthly mother, and how she raised her perfect son and later watched him suffer and die. I in no way compare myself or my son Dennie to her or our Savior, but I can feel her anguish as she watched her Son in so much pain and suffering, prayed for and comforted Him, and finally watched Him die. I feel a small, small part of what she suffered and maybe felt.
I love her and admire her strength. Her example has helped me through this trial. My testimony has grown so much and in so many different ways over the years because of what Heavenly Father has let me experience. I have a stronger testimony than I have ever had because of my life and the happiness and trials I have been given. I will be forever grateful.
I love her and admire her strength. Her example has helped me through this trial. My testimony has grown so much and in so many different ways over the years because of what Heavenly Father has let me experience. I have a stronger testimony than I have ever had because of my life and the happiness and trials I have been given. I will be forever grateful.
Testimony: Blessed by "Daughters in My Kingdom"
by Melanie Martin
I wanted to take this opportunity to write a brief testimony concerning the book Daughters in My Kingdom. After receiving the book, I read through it entirely within a few days. It was a source of inspiration and guidance to turn its pages and take in the wonderful text. I learned so much about the history of Relief Society and faithful sisters who paved the way before us with selfless acts of kindness, hard work, and spiritual growth. I felt strengthened by this knowledge. On a personal note, I found the book to be a great source of strength to me while going through some difficulties. I found a new light in my testimony of visiting teaching, kindness to others, patience, and unconditional love.
I know this book was truly inspired. I know that it will touch the lives of all the sisters who read it. There is truly a spirit of unification and love in this book that inspires to serve in the gospel and to be like our Savior, Jesus Christ.
I know this book was truly inspired. I know that it will touch the lives of all the sisters who read it. There is truly a spirit of unification and love in this book that inspires to serve in the gospel and to be like our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Testimony: They Showed Me How to Have Charity
by Brittney Hosking
In the preface of Daughters in My Kingdom I read a quote by President Spencer W. Kimball that said, “We know that women who have deep appreciation for the past will be concerned about shaping a righteous future.” I have to say now that I have read this book that I understand and agree with this statement.
I have always been amazed with the work that women were able to do before washing machines and telephones, but to read about the service and never-ending work that was done by these faithful early Relief Society sisters was outstanding.
I was touched especially by the stories of visiting teaching, what visiting teaching has done for other women, and what are the best ways to do visiting teaching. There was a quote by Sister Mary Ellen Smoot that said, “My desire is to plead with our sisters to stop worrying about a phone call or a quarterly or monthly visit, and whether that will do, and concentrate instead on nurturing tender souls.” This summed it up well for me that it really is not about “getting it done” but about the women themselves.
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| from http://valleyforgewoman.blogspot.com |
I have always been amazed with the work that women were able to do before washing machines and telephones, but to read about the service and never-ending work that was done by these faithful early Relief Society sisters was outstanding.
I was touched especially by the stories of visiting teaching, what visiting teaching has done for other women, and what are the best ways to do visiting teaching. There was a quote by Sister Mary Ellen Smoot that said, “My desire is to plead with our sisters to stop worrying about a phone call or a quarterly or monthly visit, and whether that will do, and concentrate instead on nurturing tender souls.” This summed it up well for me that it really is not about “getting it done” but about the women themselves.
Testimony: Strengthened Through the Legacy of Faith
by Cathi Maki
When I was told how special Daughters in My Kingdom was, I never realized how special until I read it. I’m not much of a reader, but on a recent plane trip back home, I decided to start reading it and found myself so taken by the stories and challenges of these women.
When I was told how special Daughters in My Kingdom was, I never realized how special until I read it. I’m not much of a reader, but on a recent plane trip back home, I decided to start reading it and found myself so taken by the stories and challenges of these women.
During moments of sadness I will remind myself of the many struggles and challenges these women faced but never lost faith, no matter how tough the trial became.I couldn’t put the book down and read it from cover to cover. As I am a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was truly an inspiration to read of the sacrifices and trials these women faced but stayed strong in their faith and spirit. I found myself in tears while reading some of these words, and it made me feel so blessed that we as a family are members of this church.
Testimony: Enduring to the End
by Amy Farr
The things I learned from Daughters in My Kingdom are pretty much summed up in a quote by Spencer W. Kimball on page 5: “The cultivation of Christlike qualities is a demanding and relentless task—it is not for the seasonal worker or for those who will not stretch themselves, again and again.” I believe that one of the huge legacies these early pioneer women left us was that of enduring to the end. The trials that they were called to endure, and had faith to go through, whether muddling or joyfully, they did because of their desire to be like our Savior.
The trials I am called to bear in this day are different, but my desire is the same. I want to be like my Shepherd. I draw strength from the women who have traveled this mortal road before. I think our Savior smiles when He thinks of those early Relief Society sisters. I hope my life can be one that also makes Him smile. One that causes the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” to pass from His lips. Their example gives me faith to continue on, to endure to the end.
The things I learned from Daughters in My Kingdom are pretty much summed up in a quote by Spencer W. Kimball on page 5: “The cultivation of Christlike qualities is a demanding and relentless task—it is not for the seasonal worker or for those who will not stretch themselves, again and again.” I believe that one of the huge legacies these early pioneer women left us was that of enduring to the end. The trials that they were called to endure, and had faith to go through, whether muddling or joyfully, they did because of their desire to be like our Savior.
The trials I am called to bear in this day are different, but my desire is the same. I want to be like my Shepherd. I draw strength from the women who have traveled this mortal road before. I think our Savior smiles when He thinks of those early Relief Society sisters. I hope my life can be one that also makes Him smile. One that causes the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” to pass from His lips. Their example gives me faith to continue on, to endure to the end.
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| from http://ryanslds.tumblr.com |
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