My Perfect Grandma

For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has talked about death.  Not just any death, though, her death.  Whenever someone died, she would say that she wished it were her.  When my grandpa died, she talked about how happy she was for him.  She even wanted to have a little party to celebrate his "graduation".  She looked forward to the day that she would leave this earth, because, as she always said, "There's work to do!".  Yesterday, she finally got her wish.  While her passing wasn't really a shock to anyone - she was getting to that age where her body was slowly rebelling - it was very sudden.  She had been doing really well as of late, or so it seemed.  And then she was just gone.

I've been hit with waves of different emotions over the past 18 hours or so.  To be honest, my relationship with my grandma was kind of strained.  Events during the past few years had kind of put a damper on what used to be a fun, normal grandmother/granddaughter bond.  Because of that, I probably didn't make the effort that I should have to stay close to her, although I did try to visit off and on. 

When mom called and told me that grandma had died, after the initial shock, I felt incredible relief and joy.  Then came immediate guilt for feeling that joy.  Why was I happy?  What was wrong with me?  And then I realized that my happiness was not because she died, but because she could now live.  She has been plagued her whole life with physical and emotional and mental obstacles.  She had a pretty tough life.  And now, all those things that were holding her back are gone.  I just keep thinking of that scripture in Moroni, "Come unto Christ and be perfected in him.."(Moroni 10:32), and I firmly believe that Grandma is with Christ and she is perfect.  All those maladies that she had to deal with in her physical body have been removed.  Her spirit and her mind are healed.

Of course, as I was reading today, Grandma was forefront on my mind.  As I read about Christ's visit to the Nephites after his ascension into heaven, I couldn't help but think of Grandma and her reunion with Him.

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified would come into the world.

And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. (3 Nephi 11:10-11)  

The Atonement of Jesus Christ was not just about our sins.  It was about all the hardships that we would face.  It was about my grandma's fibromyalgia and sciatica and all those other things that she dealt with on a daily basis.  He loved her (and all of us) so much that He died so that she could live again in a perfect state - free of pain and mental anguish.  Because of Him, I will see her again.  My perfect Grandma.  There are not words to express my deep, eternal gratitude for this knowledge.

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 11

Oceans Apart

©Darrell Wyatt

The internet is truly an amazing thing.  With just a few clicks of my mouse, I can know everything newsworthy that is happening anywhere around the world.  I can check to see what the temperature is in Chicago or Tokyo or Moscow.  I can look up the menu for a restaurant in Hong Kong.  I can even look up traffic reports in Sydney, Australia.  It's really quite unbelievable, the information that I have, right at my fingertips.

I love to look at the statistical reports on my blog.  There's a whole bunch of information about which posts have been read during any given period of time and by how many people, what internet platform each reader is using, and whether any comments have been posted.  My favorite statistic to look at, though, is the audience stat.  It tells me what country each reader is from.  Including the United States, people from ten different countries on four different continents have read various posts that I've written.  People from places like Canada and Russia and Brazil are reading about my thoughts and experiences.  This is a little bit mind-blowing to me.  People halfway across the world are interested in what is going on thousands of miles and oceans away.

I've always been very grateful to have the Book of Mormon, but today, as I was reading, I realized just how grateful I really am.  I am reading of the time period during and just following the crucifixion of Christ.  Samuel the Lamanite had prophesied of the signs that would be given at the time of Christ's death, and these signs were coming to pass.

...there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.

And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.

And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.(3 Nephi 8:5-7)

Cities were swallowed up into the ocean or burned or buried.  People were taken away in whirlwinds.  The earth quaked and divided.  All of this destruction lasted about three hours, and then there was complete darkness - just as Samuel the Lamanite had foretold.  The darkness lasted for three days, during which the people mourned the loss of their brethren and also mourned the fact that they had not repented earlier.  They didn't believe that the signs would ever come.  They had lost any belief that they once had in Christ, but now that the prophesies were being fulfilled, they knew that they had been wrong.

I decided to do a side by side comparison between the Book of Mormon and the Bible.  I wanted to see what was happening on the other side of the world - in Jerusalem, where Christ was crucified - during this exact time in the Book of Mormon.  What a wonderful experience this was for me!  Of course I've read both the biblical account and the Book of Mormon account of the crucifixion of Christ before, but I have never read them together.  I learned that much the same thing was happening in Jerusalem as it was on this continent.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, (Matthew 27:51-52)

I also learned that the people in Jerusalem were having the same type of reaction as the Nephites were.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.(Matthew 27:54)

Just like the Nephites, these people realized that they had been wrong in disbelieving the prophesies they had been given about Christ being the Messiah - the Savior of the World.  Only after his death did both groups of people believe.

If it weren't for the Book of Mormon, I would only have an account of events that happened to the people that were with Christ on that great and terrible day.  There would be no way for me to know what was happening to the people halfway around the world.  The Nephites were as effected by the crucifixion of Christ as those people that were with Him in Golgotha.  Christ died for their sins, also - not just for those who were on the same continent.  How grateful I am for this record and for the opportunity that I have to read about one of the most important events in the history of the world from the perspective of a group of people half a world away.  It truly is another witness of Jesus Christ.

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 8

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 9

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 10

The Storm Before the Calm

©Darrell Wyatt

I've tried.  I've really tried.  But no matter what I do, Sunday and I just do not get along.  Not only do we not get along, I'm pretty sure Sunday hates me.  With a burning passion.

I had a perfectly nice, relaxing weekend.  I spent lots of time with my family, doing lots of fun things.  I went to bed reasonably happy last night.  And then I woke up, and it was Sunday.  And it was all downhill from there.  My poor kids couldn't find their clothes fast enough or do their hair nicely enough or talk softly enough or breathe the right way.  When we got to Sacrament Meeting, I actually said to my husband, "Why do we even bother to bring our kids to church?  We should just come by ourselves."  I can't believe I said that.  But what's worse is that I really meant it.  And it was only the opening song.  Sunday hates me.

There's just something that happens when I'm trying so hard to make sure that we're all doing the right thing.  I know that it's the adversary, trying to get his foot in the door, making it difficult for us to make the right choices.  It seems like on Sunday, he not only gets his foot in, he pitches a tent.

...and all this iniquity had come upon the people because they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan. (3 Nephi 7:5)

As much as I'd like to blame my relationship with Sunday on Satan, I really can't.  I'm not a horribly crabby monster of a mom on Sundays because Satan makes me.  I'm a horribly crabby monster of a mom on Sundays because I let him have power over me.  I have the power to stop it.  I could say that all of this happens because by Sunday I'm so completely exhausted that I don't have the energy to keep my guard up, but that's not really it.  Satan does know when we're doing things that please our Father in Heaven, and he will do everything he can to stop us.  The sad part is that he knows how much power that I, as a mother, possess.  He doesn't even have to work on my children - he just gives me a little nudge and I do all his dirty work for him.

So, now that I'm aware of what I'm doing, and more importantly what Satan is doing, I will resolve that today be my last battle with Sunday.  What happened today will just be thought of as the storm before the calm.  That's what Sundays should be - calm and peaceful and reverent.  And so, with a little more effort and a lot of prayer, that's just what they are going to become.

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 7

Drive Safely

©Darrell Wyatt

When I was younger and just about ready to get my driving permit, my dad decided to let me drive the block home from a friends house with him.  I had never been in the driver's seat before, and I was a little nervous.  I started out fine, albeit very slowly.  I headed down the street and promptly ran the first stop sign.  I was afraid if I stopped, I wouldn't be able to get started again since the car had a manual transmission.  At the turn, I thought that I was doing fine.  I began to turn the wheel and accelerate.  The problem was, I didn't turn the wheel nearly hard enough and headed across the road and straight for a barn.  Luckily, because I was going so slowly, the car rolled to a stop on its own before I could do any damage to the barn or the car.  My dad handled the whole thing in stride.  He knew that it wasn't really my fault, since I had never driven before.  He did drive the rest of the way home, though.

Looking back, I think I know what happened.  I had watched my parents drive many times.  I sort of knew, from watching them, how to drive.  Turn the wheel when necessary, apply the brakes to slow down, use the lever to turn on the blinkers.  But I didn't know how hard to turn the wheel or what pressure was necessary to speed up or slow down.

This morning, I read of the Nephites' descent from "great order in the land" to "a state of awful wickedness".  They had defeated the Gadianton robbers and lived in peace for a few years.  They began to prosper exceedingly in all things - crops, riches, clothing.  They were very blessed. 

And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances of learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches. (3 Nephi 6:12)

 

They began to split up into classes and the more wealthy people would persecute the poorer among them.  Some would fight back, while others remained humble.  "And thus there became a great inequality in the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up."(3 Nephi 6:14)

Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this - Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.

And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity...(3 Nephi 6:15-16)

These were the same people who had seen the signs of Christ's birth.  They continued to receive signs and wonders from heaven, and just a few years prior, "there was not a living soul among [them] who did doubt in the least" all the things that had been prophesied.  The very same people who were now committing all manner of sin and iniquity.

Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully rebel against God. (3 Nephi 6:18)

Willful rebellion.  I really hadn't thought of that before.  It's like my driving experience.  Because I hadn't been given the proper instruction, I couldn't be held accountable for my driving errors.  However, now that I have been through a driving course and learned all the proper techniques and driving rules, anytime that I run a stop sign or exceed the speed limit amounts to willful rebellion.  If I break the rules, I do not do it ignorantly.  I know the rules.

The same is true in other aspects of my life.  I have the knowledge and light of the gospel.  I know why I'm here and where I'm headed and what's expected of me.  If I neglect to make the right choices, I am willfully rebelling against God.  That's pretty powerful. 

I watch my kids, and the rate that they learn, and I can correlate my first driving experience with their little lives.  My younger children are learning the basic rules - no stealing, no lying, love one another, while my older kids are gradually gaining the knowledge that they need to really be able to follow all these rules.  They are learning the reasons behind the commandments.  They are learning, in depth, the consequences that come from breaking the commandments. 

Just as I watched my parents drive and relied on their knowledge that first time I got behind the wheel, my kids are relying on my knowledge of the gospel until they can have a firm grasp of the gospel principles on their own.  Their simple testimonies are grounded in the testimonies that my husband and I have.  Some of their sins are in ignorance.  They don't have the knowledge yet to make all the right decisions all the time.  They have to lean on us, as parents, to guide them through until they do have the knowledge of their own.  My example to them is vital.  I cannot let them ever see me in willful rebellion - even if they don't understand what that means.  I must be steadfast in keeping the commandments at all times, and continue helping them build their own knowledge.  Eventually, they're going to have to take the wheel on their own.  I can only work and hope that I've given them the knowledge and skill to drive safely.

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 6

When He Comes Again

As far back as I can remember, I have learned about the Second Coming of Christ.  Everything I have been taught in church, from nursery to primary to Young Women's and now as an adult, has been in preparation for His coming.  I remember when I was younger, I would sometimes wonder if He would come during the next year or two.  And then I read a story about a pioneer girl who felt the same way, some hundred years before I was even born. 

I was thinking about this as I read this morning.  The beginning of the Book of Mormon took place more than six hundred years before Christ's birth.  In about 560 B.C., Jacob said:

Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him. (2 Nephi 11:4)

There was no way for any of them to know how long it would be until Christ was born.  For all they knew, he would come within their lifetimes.  But he did not.  He came nearly six hundred years later.

Today, I read of the Nephites who lived during the years of Christ's life.  They knew that he was born because of the signs they were given, but he had not yet come to see them as it had been prophesied that he would.

And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled. (3 Nephi 5:1)

They knew, because of the signs that they had already received, that He would come to them.  They didn't know whether it would be that year or the next or a hundred years later, but they knew they would get to see him.

Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence day and night. (3 Nephi 5:3)

They chose to live in a manner that no matter when he came, whether it be then or sometime in the future, they would be ready.  What a lesson this is to me.  I may or may not be here for the Second Coming, but I need to live as if he were coming tomorrow.  I need to "serve God with all diligence day and night" so that when he does come again, I will be ready.

The song "When He Comes Again" has been running through my mind as I've been typing.  It is one of my very favorite songs that I learned when I was as young as my youngest child.  I'm grateful to my dad for letting me use his wonderful photos along with these lyrics:

I wonder when he comes again,

Will herald angels sing?

©Darrell Wyatt

Will the earth be white with drifted snow?

©Darrell Wyatt

Or will the world know spring?

©Darrell Wyatt

I wonder if one star will shine

far brighter than the rest;

©Darrell Wyatt

Will daylight stay the whole night through?

©Darrell Wyatt

Will songbirds leave their nests?

©Darrell Wyatt

I'm sure he'll call his little ones

to gather round his knee,

because he said in days gone by,

"Suffer them to come to me."

©Darrell Wyatt

I wonder when he comes again,

Will I be ready there

©Darrell Wyatt

To look upon his loving face

and join with him in prayer?

©Darrell Wyatt

Each day I'll try to do his will

and let my light so shine

©Darrell Wyatt

That others seeing me may seek

for greater light divine.

©Darrell Wyatt

Then when that blessed day is here,

He'll love me and he'll say,

"You've served me well my little child,

Come into my arms to stay."

©Darrell Wyatt

Words and music: Mirla Greenwood Thayne, 1907–1997
© 1952 by Mirla Greenwood Thayne, Provo, Utah. Renewed 1980. Used by permission. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 5 

Be Prepared

©Darrell Wyatt

I'm so grateful this morning for my home.  The wind is howling loudly against my windows, and it is bitter cold outside.  A blizzard is predicted for this afternoon, and the schools are letting out early in preparation.  The schools here never let out for snow, so this impending storm must be pretty harsh.  I hesitated to take time to write, because I keep getting the feeling that I need to prepare, but I also know that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything until I've written.

I'm glad the schools are letting out early.  Whenever there is some sort of storm or disaster or emergency, I'm always so glad to have my family around me.  There's just something about being together that makes me feel safe.

When the Gadianton Robbers threatened to come against the Nephites, Lachoneus wisely gathered his people and provisions together in the heart of their land, in the city of Zarahemla.  They brought everything with them - animals, storage, any supplies that they would need - and they left the rest of the land desolate.  This proved to be a good way to keep the robbers away from them, as they couldn't get close enough without having to go back to their camps for more supplies.

Therefore, there was no chance for the robbers to plunder and to obtain food, save it were to come up in open battle against the Nephites; and the Nephites being in one body, and having so great a number, and having reserved for themselves provisions, and horses and cattle, and flocks of every kind, that they might subsist for the space of seven years...(3 Nephi 4:4)

So the robbers, because the only method they knew to obtain anything was to "plunder and rob and murder", decided that they would go to war.  They marched against the Nephites, whom they discovered to have fallen to the earth at their appearance.  This made the robbers happy, because they were sure that the Nephites had fallen to the ground in fear.  

But in this thing they were disappointed, for the Nephites did not fear them; but they did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection; therefore, when the armies of Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of the Lord the did receive them. (3 Nephi 4:10)

Things like this impending blizzard always bring to my mind thoughts of inadequacy.  We are told over and over to be prepared for an emergency.  To have our food storage and our emergency essentials ready.  Because I am not prepared, I will spend the day rushing around gathering things I might need if the power goes out.  

The need for adequate emergency storage is obvious, but the battle between the Gadianton robbers and the Nephites reminded me of another type of preparation that is essential in an emergency.  I need to make sure that my family and I are also spiritually prepared.  No matter the storm or disaster, if we are prepared spiritually, we will be "prepared to meet them".  We will have the strength of the Lord to make it through any trial, but we must do our part.  All the things that we learn from our inspired leaders are as important as any canned food in my basement storage.  Do I have an adequate store of scripture reading, church-going, prayer?  It's as vital to periodically take stock of our spiritual storage as it is our food storage.  If we are prepared, we need not fear.

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 4

It's Not You, It's Me

©Darrell Wyatt

I live across the valley from the Wellsville Mountains.  During the winter time, I can see them from some of the windows in my house.  They are breathtaking.  According to many sources, these mountains are considered to be the steepest mountain range in the world.  I don't quite understand how the measurements work, but it has something to do with the width of the base compared to the height.  Small, but mighty.

I mention the Wellsvilles, because the story that I read today is probably one of the lesser known stories in the Book of Mormon, but it is the one that has had the largest impact on my life.  It, like the mountains, is small but mighty.  I know I've said this a few times, but today's chapter really is one of my very favorites.  In fact, I knew that it was coming today, and I could hardly sleep last night.  I kept waking up, thinking of what I could say to convey the emotion that this chapter brought to the surface the first time I really read it.  I hope that I am able to do it justice.

As in many of the Book of Mormon periods of time, this particular one was riddled with contention between the good guys and the evil guys.  As usual, the good guys were those who believed in Christ and lived righteous, God-fearing lives.  However, the bad guys had changed.  They were called the Gadianton Robbers.  The epitome of evil. They had their own secret society which, for the most part, stayed in mountains, separated from the Nephites.  They had spies that would infiltrate regular society and secret signs that they would use to be able to tell who else among the people were aligned with them.  They would murder and steal, and it was nearly impossible to catch them because they were so secretive.  True evil in action.

In today's chapter, the governor of the land, Lachoneus, received a letter from the leader of the Gadianton Robbers.  I don't usually like to quote such a large chunk of the chapters I read, but there's no way I can do this justice by paraphrasing it.  The letter said:

Lachoneus, most noble and chief governor of the land, behold, I write this epistle unto you, and do give unto you exceedingly great praise because of your firmness, and also the firmness of your people, in maintaining that which ye suppose to be your right and liberty; yea, ye do stand well, as if ye were supported by the hand of a god, in the defence of your liberty, and your property, and your country, or that which ye do call so.   And it seemeth a pity unto me, most noble Lachoneus, that ye should be so foolish and vain as to suppose that ye can stand against so many brave men who are at my command, who do now at this time stand in their arms, and do await with great anxiety for the word—Go down upon the Nephites and destroy them.  And I, knowing of their unconquerable spirit, having proved them in the field of battle, and knowing of their everlasting hatred towards you because of the many wrongs which ye have done unto them, therefore if they should come down against you they would visit you with utter destruction.

Therefore I have written this epistle, sealing it with mine own hand, feeling for your welfare, because of your firmness in that which ye believe to be right, and your noble spirit in the field of battle.  Therefore I write unto you, desiring that ye would yield up unto this my people, your cities, your lands, and your possessions, rather than that they should visit you with the sword and that destruction should come upon you.  Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us—not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance.  And behold, I swear unto you, if ye will do this, with an oath, ye shall not be destroyed; but if ye will not do this, I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow month I will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they shall not stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you, and shall let fall the sword upon you even until ye shall become extinct.

And behold, I am Giddianhi; and I am the governor of this the secret society of Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I know to be good; and they are of ancient date and they have been handed down unto us.  And I write this epistle unto you, Lachoneus, and I hope that ye will deliver up your lands and your possessions, without the shedding of blood, that this my people may recover their rights and government, who have dissented away from you because of your wickedness in retaining from them their rights of government, and except ye do this, I will avenge their wrongs. 

I am Giddianhi. 

(3 Nephi 3:2-10)

When I first read this letter, I was amazed at the manipulative, conniving wording that Giddianhi chose.  He started out by flattering Lachoneus - telling him what a noble and courageous person he was.  Inviting Lachoneus to bring his people to join with the Gadianton Robbers.  Pretending to be looking after his welfare.  Quite an evil mastermind.

As much as I was drawn into the story by this letter, it is Lachoneus' reaction that is the lesson.

Now behold, this Lachoneus, the governor, was a just man, and could not be frightened by the demands and the threatenings of a robber; therefore he did not hearken to the epistle of Giddianhi, the governor of the robbers, but he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength against the time that the robbers should come down against them. (3 Nephi 3:12)

Lachoneus told his people to pray.  Not surprising, since that would be the reaction of any just and righteous leader.  The surprise, and truly life-changing example to me, was what he asked them to pray for.  He did not ask his people to pray that the Gadianton Robbers would not come against them.  He did not ask them to pray to be spared from fighting.  He asked them to pray that they would be prepared when the Robbers did come against them.  

How often have I prayed that I will be spared the pain or discomfort of something that I know is inevitable?  How often have I prayed, when in the midst of conflict, that the other person's heart would be softened or their feelings toward me changed?  Instead, I should have been praying that I would be changed.  That I would be able to bear the pain or discomfort.  That my heart would be softened.

There will be times that conflict or pain or loneliness or heartbreak is inevitable.  There's nothing we can do to change that.  There will be people who are angry with us, whether we feel that the anger is justified or not.  It's part of this life's growing experiences.  To ask Heavenly Father to take all that away from us is reneging on our part of His plan.  We knew that this life would be a test - a challenge that would help us grow.  Asking for no trials would be like asking God for the answers to the test.  It might make getting to the end easier, but we would learn nothing.  We should only ask, as Lachoneus did, that God will give us the strength to make it through.

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 3