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Thursday, April 29, 2010

May 2010 Visiting Teaching Message - General Conference talks

As you know, the message for your Visiting Teaching for May 2010 will come out of the April 2010 General Conference messages.  So go if you don't have your Ensign, where the conference talks are published, then you can go to watch, listen or read them at http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1207,00.html

On the Relief Society page, they have a "Call to Action".  this is listed under the announcement about the Visiting  Teaching message.  Call to action for May can be found at  http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4644-1,00.html

Saturday, April 24, 2010

I'm published!

Hey, I wanted to let you all know that my story that went along with the Visiting teaching message was printed in the LDS Church News today on page 15, and can be found at http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/59230/Relief-society-Members-respond-to-April-message-on-personal-revelation.html   It doesn't give all the details of the story like I put on my blog, but it is pretty inspiring and I feel honored that they liked what I wrote enough to accept it in the Chruch news. It was my daughter who made it all possible and I feel so grateful to her for listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  We moms are certainly entitles to and receive personal revelation.  It happens all the time, and I hope that we can recognize it and act upon it when it comes.
Love, Katie G. 
P.S. Scroll down this blog to read what I wrote about.

Monday, April 19, 2010

My thoughts on Visiting Teaching and LDS.org

By now you must know how committed I am to Visiting Teaching.  I have been writing this blog for over 2 years now and the focus has always been the same... Visiting Teaching.  From time to time I will insert some other ideas that are more Relief Society oriented, but mostly I have stuck with the Visiting Teaching Theme.  I hope that you have enjoy the Tips, handouts and Ideas that I  present to  you as my gift to encourage your participating in this wonderful service of Visiting Teaching.  

This is a lay church and ministry and nobody is getting paid to serve in the callings they are asked to do by their bishops.  It is strictly volunteer, and you have the ability to touch womens lives, and strengthen their testimonies, all the while strengthening your own.  Women need each other's support and encouragement.  I reach out to you as just another voice from one LDS woman to another....to maginify your calling, love those of whom you serve in friendship, caring, and being a watchcare giver.  You will be blessed for the service you give.
This morning as I was looking through LDS.org I saw that they have two  videos out for Visiting Teaching One is "Sister Julie Beck on Visiting Teaching"  found at http://www.lds.org/pa/rs/home/rsvideo.html?xml=rsvideo_8776b.xml   and the other is "Our Hands are His hands" http://www.lds.org/pa/rs/home/rsvideo.html?xml=rsvideo_8776a.xml
Have you been to LDS.org lately?  If not, you really should and if you have been, then you should keep going back.  The site is constantly changing and being updated with marvelous materials, new pages.  It is  exciting!   LDS.org is actually the official  link to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that link  is:   http://www.lds.org Go tp the Relief society page which can be found here http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4644-1,00.html  I can guarantee that you will not leave this site without feeling lifted from having visited!  Enjoy!  Katie G.

Friday, April 9, 2010

LDS General Conference 2010 talks are now out!

Don't you just love General Conference?  Listening and enjoying the words and inspiration of our leaders, and thinking about which talks were your favorite, or how many were inspired with mutual themes for their talks?  Every time conference is done, I just can't wait to go back and reread the talks to enjoy and really devour the content.  Well.....Woo hoo!  The conference talks are now out so you can go back and reread them.  The link is http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1207,00.html  You get them here, before you even get them in the Ensign, so I just wanted to give you a heads up on some really good reading.  Out of curiosity, what talk was your favorite?  Please comment below.  Sincerely, Katie G.

Monday, April 5, 2010

April 2010 Visiting Teaching Message

Go here to find the April 2010 Visiting Teaching message direct link at lds.org: http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5146-1,00.html   This months message is "Seeking and Receiving Personal Revelation". At the bottom of the V.T. message page are some "Notes" with references to talks by church leaders on the subject of Personal Revelation. One that caught my eye, was given by Dallin H. Oaks, entitled “Eight Reasons for Revelation,” found in the Liahona, Sep 2004, 8. As I read the first paragraph about the personal revelation of warning given to a mother for the safety of her children, I was reminded of a true story about the personal revelation given to my own daughter on behalf of her daughter, my granddaughter.

Last year, my little  Granddaughter age 4,  began feeling ill one day and complained to her mom, that she had pain in her stomach and began vomiting.  At first my daughter passed it off to her possibly catching the flu like most parents would.  As any good mother would, my daughter comforted her little girl, and did everything she could think of to treat her symptoms.  Molly, my daughter, phoned the doctor, told the her of Brinleys symptoms,  and the doctor said that it sounded like the stomach flu. My daughter prayed for her daughters protection and healing throughout the day.  When the symptoms didn't go away, she told her husband that she thought something more was really wrong.  Now, like most husbands do, he tried to reassure and calm his wife and her fears, that it wasn't anything to worry about and, that the doctor had said it was just the flu, and  that probably by the next day, she would wake up and be just fine. After a bad night, the next day came and  all the symptoms including vomiting continued, and she seemed to be as bad or worse as she was the day before.  This time, my daugher took Brinley into the doctor to be checked, and once again, the doctor said that Brinley just had a bad case of the flu.

Putting her sick little girl to bed the second night, my daughter continued to have a nagging feeling that things weren't alright but on the other hand, she didn't want to make a big deal if it was only the flu like the doctor said. Up until about 1:00am, after putting her daughter to bed that second night of sickness, with a prayer in her heart, my daughter Molly felt compelled to go to the computer and look up symptoms that her daughter was having on medical websites, and see if she could get any more answers there.   Throughout that day she had  kept having thoughts about apendicitus go through her mind, and it just didn't leave her thoughts. This just didn't seem like the flu to her, and soon she began to realized that there was something much more serious.  She had  promptings and feelings deep inside of her suggesting that she needed to get her daughter into see a doctor right away. That was about 1:00am, and it was dark and snowing outside, and the roads in Parleys Canyon were snow covered and slippery.  Telling her husband that she thought that their little girl should be taken to the doctor immediately, he once again said, to not worry so much, but something else inside her mind was telling her differently.  She new she was being prompted and she knew that she had to take action.
Molly, decided to bundle up Brinley in her warm coat and blanket and at 1:30 am, the two of them drove through the treacherous canyon roads, to get to an emergency room of a hospital in Salt Lake City. Molly recounts that she had to drive very slow, and prayed all the way through the canyon for their safety, anxious and  in fear that they might end up sliding off the road.   An hour later, they arrived at the Emergency Room of Primary Children hospital, and tests were performed on little Brinley. Results came back that there was something much worse than the flu and it was her appendix, just as she had been prompted.  Little Brinley was scheduled for surgery only hours after being brought to the hospital.  It was about 6:00 am, that next morning, when I was notified by my daughter of what had happened only hours prior.  I was so grateful that she was in tune with the Spirits promptings that told her to take action even when the doctore said otherwise.  Little Brinley's symptoms could have easily been written off to the stomach flu, but the spirit sent a warning to my daughter and she listened and acted upon this warning and I am so grateful that she did. 

As a side note, my daughters husband could barely contain himself, as he drove down the snowy canyon to the hospital after finding out about his little girls tests. His heart ached not only for his little daughter's serious condition, but because he had continued to discount his wifes feelings of just over reacting to what the doctor had said was symptoms of the  flu.   I can only imagine how grateful he was for his wife, not listening to his normally calming influence and comments, and acting upon the promptings she had received. 

Before the surgery was done, little Brinley received a priesthood blessing from her Daddy and her Grandpa. As she was being wheeled into the operating room, Brinley had been given sedation, and she looked up at her Grandpa, and said, "Hey Grandpa, you have 3 eyes and two heads."  Knowing her observations came from the drugs she had been given, she provided us with some comic relief in that stressful situation.   

All went well with the surgery, and she recovered quickly.  Brinley so enjoyed the attention and kindness she receoved in Primary Children's Hospital and asked when she could go back again to stay over night and order food off of the hospital menu. Her bright and cheerful spirit provided comfort to those of us adults who were so worried about her, yet she didn't complain or even seem to be in much pain.  Once the surgery was over, she began to thrive and after only a couple weeks of healing, was back to normal activity and to the bright and spirited little girl she had alwasy been. 

In the talk by Elder Oaks, he states, "This is not a case where a person proposes to take a particular action and the Spirit either confirms or restrains. This is a case where revelation comes when it is not being sought and impels some action not proposed. This type of revelation is obviously less common than other types, but its rarity makes it all the more significant."

When we live in tune with the spirit, we can be assured that we will receive the guidance and personal revelation we need. The Lord is watching over us and knows everything from the beginning to the end of our lives, and if we will keep ourselves in tune and receptive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, then we can not only accomplish His purposes for us here on this earth, but be receptacles to help and bless the lives of others. I know that God lives and that revelation to His children is a reality. I pray that we will be worthy and willing to partake in this wonderful blessing and gift he gives to each of us.  Sincerely, Katie G. P.S.  I have posted a handout/printable bookmark, taken from one of the quotes of this months Visiting Teaching message.  It was one by President Boyd K. Packer .  It says, "Prayer is your personal key to heaven.  The lock is on your side of the veil." You can find it at my other blog http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com While you are there, you should lookover all the  archives of great printables, ideas and things that I have posted for the past couple of years, since I began this blog.  Even though those ideas may be specific to a particular lesson or holiday, you can still use them to share on other occasions for other purposes.  

Friday, April 2, 2010

My Testimony of the Attonement

Many years ago, when I lived in Reno, Nevada, I went in for a Temple recommend interview.  I knew prior to going into that interview that I would be asked a specific question. At the time,  I was serving as Stake Primary President, and I had attended a Stake meeting with all the Stake Auxilliary leaders, and we were all told about a focus the Stake
Presidency had for us.  They said that everyone who would come in for a temple interview would be asked the normal worthiness interview questions, but one more would be added.  The question was in essence, "What does the Attonement mean to you?"  I  remember thinking about how I might put into words the feelings I had about Christ's attonement so I prepared myself.  Weeks before I went into that interview, I pondered, prayed, studies and read all that I could on the attonement.  I wanted to be able to look into the eye of the Stake Presidency member who would interview me, & be able to share my testimony of the Attonement. 

The time came for my interview and  I shook the hand of President Earl, and we chatted briefly.  He then asked me my worthiness questions, and then went on to ask me what the atonement meant to me.  At that moment, I could barely open my mouth.  My eyes began to well up with tears, and I began to weap.  I couldn't speak, as thoughts of my beloved Savior filled my mind.


Images of his birth and life experiences flashed throug my mind, almost like a slide show, going in fast motion.  As I viewed the image of Him kneeling in Gethsemane, and suffering to the point of bleeding from every pour, I began to shake my head in sorrow. I hurt for Him.  I watched Him suffer for me. 

I couldn't get any words out in response to the question, but my tears kept coming and rollling down my cheeks.  Flashes of Jesus being nailed to the cross, and his sweet mother in agony at His feet occupied my mind.  I imagined one of my own children being tortured in such a manner. Shaking my head and looking to ward the ground, I could barely stand it.  Wiping my tears, I looked up into the face of kindly President Earl.  His eyes were filled too, and I felt as if my spirit had testified to his without words.  He knew, what  I knew and communicated it without e saying a word. 

Of course, I was embarassed and had no intention of becoming such a blubbering, sobbing woman, but once again, he understood.  I believe that I finally was able to gain my composure enough to say a few words, to which I don't even remember, but I will never forget the feelings and emotion of that experience.  I thought I understood the atonement long ago, but  until that interview,  I knew little.
I wanted to share with you my testiomony of the great gift that Jesus Christ has given me, and as I try to put it into words, a beautiful hymn comes into my mind....  "I Stand all Amazed".  Click on the start arrow of the video presentation below, of this song, above and follow along as the words to this song is sung.
Sit back and relax and enjoy the spirit of this beautiful song.



I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died

Chorus:
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine
That he should extend his great love unto such as I
Sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify

(Repeat chorus)

I think of his hands, pierced and bleeding to pay my debt
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Secure in the promise of life in his victory
Thus ransomed from death I will live to my Savior's praise
And sing of his goodness and mercy through endless days

         Oh, it is wonderful
    that he should care for me
       enough to die for me
        Oh, it is wonderful
         Wonderful to me!