The Meaning of Christmas

Dear Reader,

This weekend I went to the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert, featuring the Muppets and Santino Fontana (well-known for his voice talent in Disney's Frozen).  It was a fantastic performance and I was with fantastic people.  During this concert, Elmo kept looking for the true meaning of Christmas.  His first assumption was that Christmas was for celebrating lights because -- as he noticed -- there were lights everywhere!  And indeed, if I was an anthropologist studying Christmas in America I would note that the people seem to have a strange fascination for lights during the month of December.  All joking aside, Elmo's quest made me wonder whether my actions are a true representation of what Christmas means to me.

Christmas provides an opportunity for us to reflect on Jesus Christ.  It allows us to examine our lives in the light of His humble birth and great sacrifice.  His gift inspires us to give gifts of our own.  I am grateful for my Savior.  I am grateful for this Christmas season.

I challenge you to consider what Christmas means to you.

What traditions or rituals do you have which have helped point you to the Savior during Christmas time?  Please comment below!

Why I am grateful for Winter

Hello Reader!

Today I am choosing to write about gratitude.  This is not only because Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but also because it is during the cold, dark, and wet when it becomes the most difficult to feel happy.  Many -- including myself -- sometimes struggle from seasonal depression.  I wake in the morning to nothing but the light from my alarm clock, and I walk home from studying by the light of streetlamps and headlights.  I think, "do I ever see the sun anymore?"  And like a child learning the game of peek-a-boo I wonder, "does the sun exist once it disappears behind the clouds?"  Regardless of the fact that I know the answer is resoundingly YES...it doesn't feel like that.  It feels like the sun will never shine again.

My father is a brilliant man.  Distinct to my memory is the night he made us learn the song, "I am Happy Today for the Sunshine".  Now I'll see if I can prove how distinct that memory is by typing out the words to the song:

I am happy today for the sunshine,

For the skies of grey or blue,

For within my heart there's a song of love,

I'll live, I'll work, I'll do

No cloud can cast a shadow,

Over courage such as mine.

So I'll sing my song as I go along,

I'll live, I'll work, I'll do

Each of my siblings and I took turns singing the chorus as a solo, "No cloud can cast a shadow, over courage such as mine!"  And we would shout it out as loud as we could.  It was the best part of the song, every time.  Now as an adult, I sometimes have these words come to my mind as I walk home at night in the freezing wind and snow.

So... this blog post is turning into a rant about singing.  I'll make my point as quickly as I can by sharing something that I've realized over the past few years.  Before I share this, note that it is my opinion -- it helps me to be grateful for the seasons.

Seasons are symbols.  Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.  Each of them symbolize to me a part of something extremely important:

The Atonement

Think about it for just a moment.  

Spring is the birth and renewal.  It is the time for plants to begin to blossom, the air to sweeten, and for the sun to shine longer.  The Spring is a time for planting and for growing.  We seem to waken, as if from a deep sleep.  We "no longer droop in sin" (2 Nephi 4:28), we "awake! and rise from the dust" (2 Nephi 1:14).  It is a time of enlarging, and enlightening.  If we can compare the word of God like unto a seed, we can also say that the word of God grows best in fertile ground and weather.  Spring is a time for planting and growing.  To me, Spring is a symbol of a fertile heart -- one which is humbly ready for the word of God to be planted.  It is also a symbol of the resurrection of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Summer is a brilliant time of light and heat.  We experience the sun in its fullness!  I like to take a book outside and read in the sun -- soak in as much as I possibly can.  "I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible" (Alma 32: 35). 

The Fall comes, and this is my particularly favorite season.  This is when the leaves change colors.  Reds, yellows, oranges, and browns replace the bright spring and summer hues.  It reminds me of fire.  "But thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost." (D&C 19:31, see also Matt 3:11).  

And finally Winter -- the gloomy and cold season.  Winter is often symbolic of sorry, suffering, deep sleep or death.  The sun does not shine, and the night is long.  We become so preoccupied with keeping ourselves warm against the chill that hangs or sweeps its way through the air.  It is often accompanied by sickness (flu season!).  And it is during this time when I sometimes wonder (while struggling to catch my breath against the icy wind), if God made winter to remind us of the Savior's suffering and death.  What was truly the most cold, dark, and lonely experience ever had by any being who lived upon the earth?  It was that had by our Savior when he took upon himself the sins, sicknesses, and pains of the world.  For this reason, I am grateful for Winter.

One last symbol before I close my post.  Because of the Atonement; because of the cold, dark, and lonely night experienced by the Lord -- we can be made clean if we turn to him.  He has said, "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).  The most beautiful scene is that of a snow-blanketed earth, with soft sunlight breaking through the clouds.  It reminds me that I too can be made clean, "as white as snow".  

I hope that this Winter you can find joy in remembering the sacrifice made by our Savior, and the opportunity we have to overcome and repent of our sins.  

Love,

Samantha

Hope: Not Just an Optimistic Attitude

Dearest Reader,

Every one of us has had a day where things just seem to go wrong.  For example, on my seventh birthday I had an accident in front of my whole first grade.  AND I was wearing a skirt with tights.  Hmmm....definitely the worst birthday ever.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that everyone experiences very difficult, embarrassing, discouraging, lonely, or just plain miserable moments.

During those times it is common that our family members, or well-meaning friends will say to us, "I hope that you get well soon", or "I hope that things turn out better".  That kind of loving encouragement can lend us strength.  But I want to focus on the word "hope".

How, exactly, is hope supposed to get us through hard times?  What are we supposed to "hope" for?  On my seventh birthday I guess I could have hoped that everyone in my class would forget that I had wet my pants.  Or that perhaps it was only a nightmare, and I would wake up completely dry!  We can hope that our problems will go away or that they won't bother us anymore.  And it is completely OK to hope that everything will turn out all right...  but in the end, that kind of hope isn't the most sustaining or the most powerful.

There is a more meaningful, lasting and eternal hope that is available to us even and especially in the most distressing of times.

This is the hope that we can have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Why should we have hope in Him?  Because He will ALWAYS fulfill his promises to us.  And HIS promises are the only ones that are eternally important.

According to the LDS missionary manual "Preach My Gospel",

The unfailing source of our hope is that we are sons and daughters of God and that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, saved us from death”, and, "Hope is the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you."

Christ has guaranteed us that if we our faithful to our promises that we made at baptism, and in the temple, we shall have eternal life.

"For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost...

"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men, Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
-2 Nephi 31:17, 19-20

The hope that we can have in Christ's promises will sustain us through any difficulty we may face.  Nevertheless, even though we have already been promised eternity if we are faithful, our Savior has also promised to help us with our mortal struggles.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
-Matthew 11:28-30

I know that my Redeemer lives.  I know that He performed the Atonement so that I may have the opportunity to live with Him and my family again.  I know that the Church of Jesus Christ is true.  And I know that hope in our Savior and in His Atonement is the only true and sustaining hope in this life.

And I hope you can come to know this too!  : )


Love,
Samantha

Obedience

This week I listened to the talk given by Elder Robert D. Hales entitled, "If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments".  I highly recommend reading this talk.

Some days I feel completely overwhelmed when I think about everything that I should be doing in my life...  It can be discouraging when I focus on the little "ticky-tack" things which are good but not necessarily super important. I was reminded while listening to Elder Hales' talk that keeping God's commandments is possible.  It doesn't have to feel discouraging.  Our Savior is there to help us along the way.

One of my favorite Articles of Faith is, "We believe that all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel."

The reason why I love it so much is because it tells us that we have agency.  The Savior isn't going to force us to Heaven, nor is our future determined for us.  ALL mankind MAY be saved.  It is by our obedience that we choose whether or not we will accept our Savior's Atonement.  Our decisions determine our destiny.  We have been given the ability to conquer sin IF we allow Christ to heal us, help us, guide us, and teach us.  And only IF we learn and become obedient to him.

Heavenly Father knew we would make mistakes and that is why He came up with a plan in which we would have a Savior.  We could not do it on our own.  The way to our Savior is by living his laws -- revealed to us through God's chosen Apostles and Prophets.  Today that Prophet is Thomas S. Monson.

I know that by keeping the commandments, listening to and obeying God's Prophets, and by striving daily to repent of our sins all mankind CAN be saved.  But it is OUR choice to turn to our Savior, to make those changes, and to become better every day.

My Wish For You...

Dear Reader and Friend,

Three days ago I was driving home from work.  While passing through one of the many parking lots on my route, I drove by a woman on crutches and her small daughter who carried her mother's purse.  The purse was almost as big as she was!  I felt a sudden urge to stop and ask if they wanted a ride.  The thought seemed silly because we were in a parking lot and they were undoubtedly walking to their car.  But I decided to turn around and ask anyway.  To my surprise, they did not have a car.  They had walked from the bus stop and were on their way to the grocery store for medicine.

We talked while I drove, and I was struck by the difficult circumstances the woman described from her life.  Her situation was discouraging and far more difficult than the small events I complained about on a daily basis.  When she and her daughter climbed out of my car she expressed her thanks and I drove away.  I looked back at them and was struck with an overwhelming feeling that Heavenly Father loved her.  More than I could understand.

Oh how I wish I could put into your heart an understanding of who you are.  I wish I could give you a knowledge of your divine nature.

Who are you?  Where do you come from?  Why does your life matter?

Oh my friend, whoever you may be, you are special.  You are not just a hunk of matter that exists simply because evolution is a principle of biology.  Your existence did not just begin at birth, nor will you cease to exist at death.  Your struggles and difficulties are not without meaning.  You are not a nobody.

Who are you?  You are a child of God -- our Heavenly Father who knows you perfectly, who loves you perfectly, who wants to bless you every moment of your life.

Where do you come from?  His family.  You lived with Him before you came here.  We all did.  We are brothers and sisters.

Why does your life matter?  Because you matter to Him.  This life is a time to grow; to learn; to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ; and to make and keep sacred promises with our Heavenly Father.

Nephi, the Book of Mormon prophet, testified "I know that [God] loveth His children; nevertheless I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17).

Heavenly Father does have a plan for you.  He wants you home.  He wants you to find happiness. Each of us are of great worth to Him, for we are His children.

This knowledge I wish to give you more than anything else.  I wish I could have given it to the woman and her daughter in the parking lot.

Oh He loves you.

-Samantha

God is in the Details

Dear Reader,

This week it has been made very clear to me that God is in the details of our lives.  By this I mean that He knows every thought, every action, every hope, every disappointment.  He knows the trials we face every day and the things we want to accomplish.  And He knows exactly what we need.

I learned this on Thursday morning when I woke up with extreme pain in my stomach; it was like fire in my tummy!  I was unable to move or even sit up.  This presented a problem not only because it was uncomfortable, but because it would prevent me from going to work.  Calling in sick was not a good option -- I knew that it would be a busy day and they would need my help.  Turning to my brother, I asked if he would give me a Priesthood blessing.  After he did so I felt the pain begin to subside and soon I was walking around and getting ready for work.

The miracle was in the healing.  But the miracle was also in the words and feelings I received during the blessing: Heavenly Father is acutely aware of me and my needs and the needs of those I can serve.  I have pondered on the feelings and it has deeply impacted the way I view my Heavenly Father.  He is an active and involved God.  He does not spin the clock and then sit back to watch it tick.  If He did, there would be no reason to pray for Grace, strength, or any other blessing.  But the truth is that God does listen, He does answer.  

Some may question, "well if God loves me and cares, then why do I suffer with such and such?"  I do not know the answer why some battle cancer, or why some are widowed, or why some lose their jobs.  But I do know that each person receives their own set of unique experiences which are very challenging.  And I also know that God loves His children.  We are His children.

Elder Neil A. Maxwell said: "Regarding trials, including of our faith and patience, there are no exemptions -- only variations.  These calisthenics are designed to increase our capacity for happiness and service.  Yet the faithful will not be totally immune from the events on this planet...  Therefore, we can be troubled on every side, but nothing can really separate us from the love of Christ; worldly anxieties are not part of being 'anxiously engaged'.  Even so, as Peter urged, we can and should cast our cares upon the Lord, because He surely cares for us!"

I've been thinking a lot about the LDS Pioneers this week, as Pioneer day was Thursday.  Of all the stories I've heard, the trials of the Pioneers are some of the most heartrending and heartwarming that I know.  They of all people knew that God loves us.

Said Francis Webster of his trials on the Pioneer trail (who traveled with the Martin Company): "Mistake to send the Hand Cart Company out so late in the season?  Yes.  But I was in that Company and my wife was in it...I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart but my eyes saw no one.  I knew then that the Angles of God were there.  Was I sorry that I chose to come by hand cart?  No.  Neither then nor any minute of my life since.  The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the martin Hand Cart Company."

So whether the trials we experience are taken away from us, or whether we face them for many years to come, know that God is there.  He will help.  He knows who you are and He is in the details.  From the smallest of tummy aches to the greatest of tragedies, He offers His help in all things.  This I know.

Love, 

Samantha

Prayer: A Letter to All

Dear Reader,

Many of you are my friends or family.  I am grateful for each of you and love you very much.

I would like to share with you how prayer has been a great blessing in my life.  I have turned to it countless times, during my happiest and most sorrowful moments.

That reminds me of a great book I once read: A Tale of Two Cities.  Charles Dickens began his beloved tale with the now famous paradox: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."  And somehow such conflicting syntax resonates with us.  In our lives we are capable of feeling both the greatest of joys and the deepest of sorrows. No one is immune, and sometimes it is a dark and hard place where we find ourselves.  But whether we are burdened by the heaviest of weights or we feel we are floating by on clouds, every person on this earth has the potential to receive great strength from their loving Heavenly Father.  God has given each of us the power to call upon Him and seek His help through prayer.  

When we call upon God, we are talking to the most powerful, the most important, the most loving, and the most compassionate person in the universe.  Not to mention, He is our Father.  Heavenly Father is very personally invested in the lives of each of His children.  He wants to hear from us.  He wants to hear from you.  Yes, you.  No matter how important you feel or don't feel, how intelligent, how beautiful, how imperfect, how confused, how lonely, how unworthy...He loves you and wants you to talk to Him.  

I have found a few ways that we can make our prayers more powerful:

First: find a quiet place where you can talk to Him aloud.

Second: "learn to ask the right questions.  Consider changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants for you." (Richard G. Scott - Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer)

Third: pray in gratitude.

Fourth: seek for answers from your prayers by actively pursuing and listening for the answer.
If the answer seems to be withheld, continue in faith -- thankful that God trusts you enough to make a righteous decision.

I know that as we seek to come closer to our Heavenly Father through prayer, we will be blessed with increased strength in our moments of weakness as well as in moments of ease.  God can grant us peace during anxiety, mourning, and confusion.  He can help us find answers to difficult questions, and calm a heart that has been broken.  He loves us.  He loves you.  "Ask and ye shall receive.  Knock and it shall be opened unto you" (D&C 4:7).

Love,

Samantha