Isn't that a great little 'ditty'? One of the speakers mentioned that in there talk at the Stake Youth Standards Night tonight. I just loved it.Yes, we had our 1st standards night after 5 years off. At first I was kind of dragging my feet about it, but after we went with Christine, I was so pumped up! It was an awesome fireside. The speakers were amazing, the musical number by the Starr family was awesome. I knew that a couple of their children sang WELL, but I didn't know that the entire family--parents included-- sang like that! Wow. It was simple but so impressive.
President Vidmar:
- Them that honor me, I will honor. (in Proverbs)
- He had Brother Schwerman stand next to him. He is an old German man who was baptized at 10, and drafted into the German army at 16. He ended up in a Russian prison camp for 5 years and told about that. He was determined to keep the word of wisdom! He had a choice to drink the coffee or the typhoid infested water. He drank the water for 5 years as his liquid and let the Lord decide if he should live or die from it. That is obedience and FAITH!
- Story of the Mist Trail at Yosemite. This was exciting because we have actually climbed this as a family! It is a pretty tough, narrow trail up, up, up. The falls next to it are so powerful that it creates a heavy mist along the trail you are climbing. Hence the name. You end up pretty wet from it when you get to the top. At the top it is absolutely breathtaking. The year round runoff goes along some smooth granite stones that look and act as water slides. They end up pooling in to a large 'pond' that is so inviting. BUT there are signs that tell you not to even put a toe in or the current can sweep you away and plunge you over the falls to your DEATH. The signs actually say, 'how many will die this year?' So obviously some people must not be very smart and think it won't effect them. They will be the exception. He likened this to us and keeping the commandments and standards. We might put a toe in and think, oh this isn't bad, and then we go up to the ankles, and it still isn't dangerous. Then we find ourselves up to our knees and suddenly the current hits us full force and we are swept over the falls! Thank goodness for the atonement, because unlike the certainty of physical death going over the falls, we have repentance that can save our lives spiritually. (we did this hike before Christine was born, so now I guess we'll have to go again and take her. I better get into shape!)
- The way you live the standards not only effects you, it effects others. How you act and behave will determine how the gospel is viewed by others. It is not just about you.
President Brennan:
- Christ didn't say--Well, Heavenly Father, this is MY body, so I don't have to get crucified or go through Gethsemane. I can do what I want! It won't effect anyone else. He said, Not my will but thine be done.
- We often won't know or understand the 'why' until years later.
- See past the 'smokescreen of Satan'. (This was a good one!) He doesn't have a body, so he will do ANYTHING to get you to abuse yours in any way possible. He knows the eternal importance of a body and since he doesn't have one he wants you to underestimate the importance of yours.
- page 16 in For The Strength Of Youth pamphlet. Your dress should prepare you to wear the holy garment.
- Fathers: take a very strong, personal, bigger role in how your daughter dresses. Teach her, and then tell her lovingly and kindly that you will wait for her to change her clothes.
- Mothers: do not live vicariously through your daughters trying to recapture some of your lost youth. Be a mother! Teach through word and example.
As you can see, the remarks were very candid and straightforward, but full of love and kindness.It was a great meeting and I had forgotten how much I LOVE these firesides.
(I am finally out of my church clothes and it feels wonderful. I've been dressed up since 10am. Church was great and it felt good to connect with everyone. The sacrament speakers were very good and I felt the spirit. I was asked to stay in the chapel and help the primary with their program practice. I loved it. I am heartsick that I will miss the program next week. So I was glad I got to see it while they practiced today. RS was good too. We came home and I popped dinner in the oven and Christine went to her presidency meeting. She got home and we ate in a jiffy because then she was back to the church for Sing Noel practice. It is our stake's big Christmas program for the community that we do in December. She sings in the YW choir. Then we met her at the Standards fireside. Whew. What a day. It was long but filled with a great spirit and feeling. Shaun taught his primary boys before they went to Deacon's quorum. None of them are in the program this year. And he had friends over to watch the baseball game. When we got back from the fireside, they were eating all the leftovers. There went our dinner for tomorrow, but it is always a good feeling to see them having a good time together and I'm glad they enjoyed the food.)
