Friends and Packets of Light

I have always loved this quote by Elder Richard G. Scott.

"They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.

"Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change....

"Pondering a scripture...gives great direction to life. The scriptures can form a foundation of support. They can provide an incredibly large resource of willing friends who can help us. A memorized scripture becomes an enduring friend that is not weakened with the passage of time.

Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate physical healing.

"Scriptures can communicate different meanings at different times in our life, according to our needs. A scripture that we may have read many times can take on nuances of meaning that are refreshing and insightful when we face a new challenge in life."

I love the scriptures and the direction and comfort they can give.  I love the people spoken of in the scriptures and their examples that I can learn from.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that the Bible is true as long as it is translated correctly.  I know that the scriptures come in other forms as well: Hymns, Personal Blessings such as Patriarchal or Father's Blessings, General Conference, and many others. The scriptures have given me inspiration and comfort many times.  I am very grateful for them!

At One

I just want to bear my testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that it is real.  I know it works. I know that by repenting, which includes forsaking sins/wrongs/mistakes (whatever you want to call them) and turning to the Savior, and doing your best to follow and be like him, you can receive forgiveness and peace and joy. My experience has been thus every time I have done something wrong and taken the steps to become clean and worthy and forgiven, no matter how hard it sometimes may be.  It can take courage, but you have that courage, or at least can find it-and it is worth it!

Since I was a young child I have learned that the 5 steps of Repentance are:

1. Recognize-realize that you have done wrong
2. Remorse-feel bad about doing it
3. Remit-Hand it to the Savior (use the Atonement)
4. Restitution-Do all you can to fix it/make up for it
5. Revoke-Never do it again

It works! Often each of those steps have steps inside of them, but it works.  I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and want us to return home to them, be worthy to meet them. I know that we each have an important work to do both in this mortal life and in the eternities.  Be ready! Be clean! Be prepared! Be worthy to accomplish it!  I know that if you seek, you will find. I have been able to find many times. I use the Atonement in my daily life and it blesses me so much helping me to feel good enough about myself to be able to progress and serve. I want to worthy to have the Savior by be always, my best friend.  I want to have a relationship thus:

"I was now grown familiar with the Lord Jesus Christ, he would oft tell me he loved me, I did not doubt to believe him; If I went abroad he went with me, when I returned bee came home with me. I talked with him upon the way, he lay down with me and usually I did awake with him. Now I could go into any company and not loose him: and so sweet was his love to me as I desired nothing but him in heaven or earth." (Robert C. Winthrop, "Christian Experience," 117)

Oh, how wonderful that would be!

I want to remain worthy in all that I think, say and do.  Do you? What are you willing to do for it?

Oh! That reminds me.  The other day when I was at the temple, I was doing baptisms for the dead and I noticed that my finger was bleeding.  But by the time that this came to my attention, I had already accidentally wiped my finger against my white (pure white!) outfit.  Ooops! I just hoped that it would come out when it was washed later.  I went ahead and was baptized for some of my ancestors and when I came back and was changing my clothes, I noticed that the streak of blood was gone from out of my clothing! Thankfully! I've thought about this experience many times since and the scripture that to me goes perfectly with this is Isaiah 1:18-

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

I know that once we truly repent of all we have done wrong, that the Lord forgives and forgets.  We get "a clean slate" or "clean clothes."  A Clean Soul.  Many times I do all the steps to repent, but then I dwell on the past mistakes and do not completely forgive myself.  This is often the hardest part of fixing a mistake, and I am still working on many things that I have this problem with.  But because I know that I am forgiven by the Lord, I am able to move forward, more happily than not and with a more firm determination to serve and follow Him always.

My Marmie

When I was little my mom and I read "Little Women" together and we would snuggle as we would watch  a movie of the same title on special nights.  One of my favorite parts of that story is how the little women call their mother "Marmie."  To me it was such a different, respectful title, yet one that told of a closeness that could be shared my no one else but mother and daughters.One that told of the daughters loving and trusting their mother so completely.  I took up calling my mom that and it is still such a special title to me so many years later.  (I am also reading "Little Women" with my little sister,  who loves it).

Today is My Marmie's birthday.  It is so hard for me to write about her because she means so much to me and we have a relationship that really cannot be told in words.  I appreciate her so much. Her righteous example, her listening ear, her thoughtful ideas or solutions, and her always trying to do better today than she did the day before.  She has such a strong testimony  and a relationship with Heavenly Father that I think is very rare.  She is a peacemaker.  She is a support to me, as well as to the rest of my family.  She is quick to apologize, and quick to forgive. She loves me with such a strong love, a completely unselfish love.

When I was little I would get migraines every month, that were some of the worst things I have ever gone through.  I couldn't take care of myself at all and would lie in bed for days feeling so sick I could not open my eyes.  Yet, these are some of my favorite memories, because my Marmie would come and read to me, hold me, sing to me, whisper encouragement in my ear, help my dad know when I needed a priesthood blessing, wake up in the middle of the night when I needed her, feed me, and just be there with me almost the entire time.  Her care of me is something I don't think I will ever forget.

I have been home-schooled my entire life and love learning with a passion!  Much of that love of learning comes from my mom reading with me, and doing projects and so forth throughout my childhood, whether it was about Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving, or the piano. I am so thankful to her for deciding to be a stay-at-home-mom.  I don't think my relationship with her would be anywhere near as strong if she had of gone to work and sent us off to school all day.  I have been able to spend so much quality time with her, learning from her, and diving into the scriptures so I could have a better relationship with the Savior.

I lost my first tooth when I was five and I remember that she was the one who was with me when that happened.  We were staying up late watching Paddington Bear and she was there to congratulate me.

She has been there to listen to my problems, as well as my victories.  Her life of faith is one I wish to always keep in mind as I go through my life so that perhaps I may emulate some of the qualities that she has and does exemplify.

I have learned to love art and music because my mom and dad have worked hard to make sure that there is a good variety of wonderful pieces to surround ourselves with, including theirs and my own, and they have helped me to develop my talents in all fields.

Because of my Marmie, I want to be Marmie, too-and a great one like she is.  Sometimes she makes mistakes, yes, and feels like she is inadequate.  But she is enough, and beyond.  She is the best Marmie I could have, and a lot better of a person than she sometimes thinks she is.

Thank you, Marmie, for your love and support! It is an honor and a blessing to be raised, loved and guided/encouraged by an angel!

I love you so much!

With Love,
Your Daughter,
Deepnita

One of my mom's (and mine) favorite quotes