Category Archives: Holidays

New Year Resolution Epiphany

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Happy 2012! Today I sat down and dutifully started listing out all of my new year resolutions. First, I listed all the things I “should” do, which morphed into the things I “want” to do. Several on the two lists match up. In all honesty, it might be hard to stick to any resolution on the “should” list that isn’t on the “want” list. For example, I definitely “should” exercise every day. But, if I do not ”want” to commit to putting in the effort and persistence that it takes to plan and execute that goal, then will it actually happen? Continue reading →

The Memorial Day Promise

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Cemetery Hill

Image by Soaptree via Flickr

On the cold afternoon of November 19, 1863 United States President Abraham Lincoln joined with over 15,000 people in a field on the outskirts of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The crowd was gathered for the purpose of dedicating the fresh graves of a newly created Soldiers National Cemetery; location of one of the most vicious and deadly battles of the raging Civil War.

The featured speaker of this event was U.S. Senator Edward Everett, a popular orator who chose to wax poetic for over two full hours to the [extremely patient] crowd. After he sat down, President Lincoln was asked to give “a few appropriate remarks” in closing. Lincoln spoke for only four minutes, and yet his words have become one of the most enduring and memorable speeches in American history. I feel his words stand as a solid American oath for Memorial Day, and an enduring anthem for every day. Continue reading →

Fight Like A Girl For Mother’s Day

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Today's Race - over 15,000 people! (photo taken by me)

Today I joined with my family, friends and over 15,000 new “bosom buddies” in the annual Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure in Salt Lake City, Utah. This event is always held the first Saturday of May and you can read about our experience last year, here. Although the weather was predicted to hit record temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit, we were blessed with Continue reading →

President Monson’s Christmas Cane

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The following story was told by President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

At home in a hidden-away corner, I have a small black walking stick with an imitation silver handle. It once belonged to a distant relative. Why do I keep it for a period now spanning sixty years? There is a special reason. You see, as a very small boy I participated in a Christmas pageant in our ward. I was privileged to be one of the Three Wise Men. With a bandanna about my head, Mother’s Chickering piano bench cover draped over my shoulder, and the black cane in my hand, Continue reading →

Truly Blessed and Duly Grateful

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The First Thanksgiving, painted by Jean Leon G...

Image via Wikipedia

This week Americans will celebrate the annual holiday of Thanksgiving.

On this day, we will gather with friends and family, eat a lot of good food, and hopefully spend some time counting our many blessings. Continue reading →

A Grand Trio For Mio

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[PARENTS MAGAZINE, GIRL WITH CAT]

Image by George Eastman House via Flickr

This month marks the third blogiversary of my MormonSoprano “experiment”! It is hard to believe that 3 whole years have flown by of my life, let alone of my “Blogger” status!

Three is such a wonderful number. So much symbolism and significance! Continue reading →

Love Changes Everything

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While driving to work, I had a favorite CD playing in my car – a collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs. I was preoccupied with the traffic, so the music mainly provided a soothing background. At one point, the lyrics of a particular song caught my attention.  I felt moved by the sentiment of the words:

Love,
Love Changes Everything:
Hands and Faces,
Earth and Sky.
Love,
Love changes everything:
How you live and
How you die…

…Love will never let you be the same

- Lyrics by Don Black & Charles Hart

I realize that these lyrics were meant to refer to romantic love, but I couldn’t help reflect that in relation to the gift of charity, love really does change everything! When we are possessed with pure Christlike love, the way we feel about ourselves, the way we feel about others, and even the way we experience reality is never the same. Christlike love is not the giddy wave of affection we often associate with romantic love. It is something much more subtle, something deeper. It is a love that does not alter with our moods or with external circumstances.

If we continue earnestly, with faith and hope in Christ to seek the gift of charity, it will be granted to us. We can become filled with a love of God and of all people. The apostle Paul gave a beautiful promise:

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

- Ephesians 3:17-19

Video: “Love Changes Everything” performed by Michael Ball

 

God’s Love: The Infinite Valentine

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We continue this week’s theme of love with a masterful sermon given on the subject by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This message was delivered at the 179th Semi-Annual General Conference on October 3, 2009.

President Uchtdorf

“Our Father in Heaven has given us, His children, much more than any mortal mind can comprehend. Under His direction the Great Jehovah created this wondrous world we live in. God the Father watches over us, fills our hearts with breathtaking joy, brightens our darkest hours with blessed peace, distills upon our minds precious truths, shepherds us through times of distress, rejoices when we rejoice, and answers our righteous petitions.”

The entire text, entitled “The Love of God”  is worth careful study. I have included a video clip of the last half of this powerful message for you to ponder and enjoy. May we never forget;

” Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely….Since “God is love,”the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love.”

Happy Valentines Week!