Miracle

Today I came down the stairs to see Kim Jong Un, the current dictator of North Korea, shaking hands with the current president of South Korea on the morning news show. 

North Korea has been a bully that has been ignored and appeased for decades. The dictators have saber rattled to their hearts delight while the rest of the world wrung their hands and said they were tough. 

President Trump is crass and bombastic, but he finally was a United States president that stood up to the bully and wouldn’t back down. And now the bully is reaching out to its neighbors and talking peace and reconciliation. 

This is particularly meaningful to Craig, as he served his mission to South Korea. 

I feel like this is a bit like the Berlin Wall coming down, and yet I sit here in a high school class as a sub and no one is talking about it. I’m wondering if I should bring the subject up. 

Sunday tradition

Craig bakes cookies Sunday nights. The boys depend on it. Today Josh asked Craig to teach him how to make cookies. So today Josh learned the very important cookie skill. 

He announced, "I am a cookie master, like my father before me."

Transformation

This happened at the beginning of the month. And then it took me til the 10th to get the picture. The next day we submitted the passport application. He went from this:

To this for less than 24 hours:

To this. 

This last photo is the image we used for his passport. He was freaked out by the loss of the beard. His friends like the change, but he mourns the loss of the facial hair. 

He did not like the goatee at all. His dad tried to talk him into keeping it for a day or two, but he shaved everything before anybody but us saw it. 

Of course I think he is beautiful which ever way he presents himself. 

Scripture - Leviticus 18

I rotate teaching Gospel Doctrine with two other teachers. So basically every third week I teach the lesson. Almost this is a once a month calling. The other two teachers are fantastic. 

Last month in the teachers counsel, I was asked how many of my class members read the lesson in preparation for the discussion. I replied that nobody read prior to class. This year is the Old Testament.  It’s the least read book of scripture. So I started to ponder that. Also, we spend so much time in Genesis. Basically we have three months to read the easiest book. And I realized I hadn’t been reading either. I’d read my lesson, but I was not reading for the other two lessons. I was way behind. Fortunately we were still in Genesis and it was easy to catch up. 

Today I was reading along in Leviticus, the book of rules and regulations. I have already read about the different sacrifices and tried not to think about wearing blood splattered cloths without the luxury of the modern washing machine. Because, honestly, if I think about it too much I find it revolting. But I get the symbolism. Especially since in the rest of scripture, we are told that we can become clean through the blood that Jesus shed for us. So I try and think about that and not the actual bloodied robes. 

I have read about the classifications of leprosy. Leprosy in flesh. Leprosy in stone and houses. Leprosy in clothing. I can identify the idea of the toxicity of black mold and the importance of cleaning it out. Leprosy in this case seems to be a generic term for toxic or contagious situations. 

Today I was reading about the moral code. All the sexual prohibitions. And then the insight that the peoples of the land of Canaan are practicing the very perversions warned against. 

This land of promise was awash in abominations. Even to the extent that they sacrificed their own children in a perverted mockery of Christ’s unique sacrifice. 

The idea that the land itself vomited and spued the people off herself it churning in my head. 

The ancient peoples believed that nature had spirits. The nymphs and naiads of Classical Greek mythology as an example. 

As a modern society we have utterly rejected the idea that all nature is some how animated by cognizant spirits. But in the scriptures, we read about the pains we cause Mother Earth and that she is aware and odedient. 

I know the Book of Joshua is coming up. The ruthless destruction of entire civilizations is hard for my 21st century mind to grasp. But then so is it hard for my same modern mind to grasp the appalling practices of the worshipers of Molech. 

I know our own time has our own perversions. We don’t pass our children through the fire in worship to idol gods, but our children do suffer. Our culture has the worshippers of debauchery and they drag their children along with them. As I go into schools I can see the result of poor or non-existent parenting. I can see the adherents of the religion of self and the results of the get something for nothing doctrine. And I wonder how long before this Promise Land will vomit our the inhabitants. 

A dreary post for sure. But then I think of Lot’s 40 and Elijah thinking he was the only one left that was faithful and god telling him there were 7000 left who were still true. And Conference always shows the strength that is still present in the Church. I think of the young missionaries that are out searching for those who love God. I watch Josh prepare himself to join their ranks. 

Is it a simple matter of focus? I think it is important to acknowledge the awful state of the world and yet hold fast to the promise of the noble and great ones that are among us. 

We must hold our ground and keep it holy. Only in this way can we be steadfast upon the land. Otherwise we will be spued out by the obedient earth. 

Scripture Exodus 20

I have been reading in The Book of Mormon and started the Old Testament. I have a goal to finish the BoM with the seminary kids. And I am teaching Gospel Doctrine and this year is the OT. So I have been torn about what to post for a bit. Today I made the decision to post from either and get back into the pattern. 

The Children of Israel have seen miracles, mighty ones and daily ones. They witnessed the mountain billowing in smoke and rumbling with the power of God. They were invited to know their God on a more personal level. But the power on the mountain scares them. 

They stood far off. I wonder how many times I do that too. I could have amazing experiences, but at the last minute I bail. How often do I not follow through?

Something to ponder. And I know what is coming. After all that, they demand a golden calf. Tragic. 

Solemn Assembly

What a cool experience today to participate in this mornings solemn assembly. I was mixing my cinnamon rolls. I washed my hands and came and sat down, waiting for my turn to officially stand and signal my support for the new prophet of God. 

It was awesome to watch my husband stand with the elders of the church worldwide to sustain the Church leadership. Then I had the opportunity to stand with the sisters of the Relief Society world wide. 

It was especially sweet to watch my two boys stand with the quorum of the Aaronic Priesthood. 

I was touched as I watched the face of President Nelson. He was visibly emotional as the thousands in the Conference Center stood as a visible support to him and his family. 

It was sweet to stand together as a family and signal to the angels in heaven who were watching that we love and sustain the chosen prophets of God. 

A thrill of excitement charged our little family room as the two new apostles were announced and sustained. Elder Gong and Elder Soares. Right after the session a brief bio was available and posted on Facebook. They are both impressive men and I am looking forward to getting to know them through the years that follow. 

And of course, the tradition continues. 

The boys look forward to Conference every six months and the expected cinnamon rolls. I guess our General Conference tradition is stronger than our Easter traditions. 

As Easter is tomorrow, we are looking forward to Easter talks from the General Authorites and Lindt chocolate truffles. 

And Jelly Bellies. 

Sugar aside, Easter is a wondrous time of the year. We are so grateful for what Jesus did for us. Our lives are blessed everyday because of what happened over 2000 years ago. 

I can’t even imagine who or what I would be if I had never known the gospel and the hope it gives me. 

This next week, Josh will start the mission process. I am confident I would never face the two year separation with excitement and suppressed sadness and anxiety unless I knew it was all true. I would never send my boy out into the world to face rejection and loneliness interspersed with amazing spiritual experiences unless I knew that he was following Christ and learning at His feet. 

Freaky realization

We were talking about Easter on our way to help some one empty their moving van. 

Usually Easter Sunday is full of music at our ward. But this year Easter is part of General Conference. 

Josh said, "this will be my last General Conference. Then four more and I’ll be back."

I was stunned. I thought I was alone in my scary game about listing out the lasts. 

Next week is April and Josh has an appointment with the bishop. He plans on shaving and I’ll rush him to get his passport photos and a photo for his mission papers. 

It’s happening!