"Serious sin enters into our lives as we yield first to little temptations.  Seldom does one enter into deeper transgression without first yielding to lesser ones, which open the door to the greater. . .It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the devil to enter a door that is closed.  He seems to have no keys for locked doors.  But if a door is slightly ajar, he gets his toe in and soon this is followed by his foot, then by his leg and his whole body and his head, and finally he is in all the way.
This situation is reminiscent of the fable of the camel and his owner who were traveling across the desert sand dunes when a wind storm came up.  The traveler quickly set up his tent and moved in, closing the flaps to protect himself from the cutting, grinding sands of the raging storm.  The camel was of course left outside, and as the violent wind hurled the sand against his body and into his eyes and nostrils he found it unbearable and finally begged for entrance in to the tent.
'There is only room for myself,' said the traveler.
'But may I just get my nose in so I can breathe air not filled with sand?' asked the camel.
'Well, perhaps you can do that,' replied the traveler, and he opened the flap ever so little and the long nose of the camel entered.  How comfortable the camel was now!  But soon the camel became weary of the smarting sand on his eyes and ears, and he was tempted to ask again:
'The wind-driven sand is like a rasp on my head.  Could I put just my head in?'
'Again, the traveler rationalized that to acquiesce would do him no damamge, for the camel's head could occupy the space at the top of the tent which he himself was not using.  So the camel put his head inside and the beast was satisfied again--but for a short while only.
'Just the front quarters,' he begged, and again the traveler relented and soon the camel's front shoulders and legs were in the tent.  Finally by the same processes of pleading and of yielding, the camel's torso, his hind quarters and all were in the tent.   But now it was too crowded for the two, and the camel kicked the traveler out into the wind and storm.
Like the camel, Lucifer readily becomes the master when one succumbs to his initial blandishments.  Soon then the conscience is stilled completely, the evil power has full sway, and the door to salvation is closed until a thorough repentance open it again."                                        The Mirale of Forgiveness

Arise and Shine Forth

“Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5).

I love the 2012 mutual theme--it's awesome!!!!

STOP YELLING!!!! :) :)

Something I need to remind myself after having the kids home for 2 snow days in a row. :)

New Goal

I'm teaching the YW this Sunday so I've been working on my lesson all week.  I was going through an old thought book I put together when I was still in college and was reminiscing over some of my favorite thoughts.  And then I remembered this blog and how I've really neglected it this last year.  So I decided that I would make a goal to post a thought every morning.  Some days I'll take the time to expand on a thought and sometimes I'll just post a quick quote.  I have so many favorites I'd like to share so hopefully this will help me to do so without taking too much of my time.  (Though I'm wondering if anyone even comes to this blog any more since I have neglected it for so long!)

Forget Not

I loved this talk of Elder Uchtdorf's from the General Relief Society Meeting last night.  His talk was just what I needed.  And it doesn't hurt that forget-me-not's are one of my favorite flowers :)

Here is a link to the entire broadcast.

The price we paid

I need to take some time and write my thoughts about our trip to Martin's Cove but I don't have enough time tonight. (I know, I have really been neglecting this blog!) But since it is "Pioneer Day" today I wanted to post one of my favorite quotes from the handcart pioneers.

Some years ago President David O. McKay (1873–1970) told of the experience of some of those in the Martin handcart company. Many of these early converts had emigrated from Europe and were too poor to buy oxen or horses and a wagon. They were forced by their poverty to pull handcarts containing all of their belongings across the plains by their own brute strength. President McKay related an occurrence which took place some years after the heroic exodus:
"A teacher, conducting a class, said it was unwise ever to attempt, even to permit them [the Martin handcart company] to come across the plains under such conditions."
Then President McKay quoted an observer who was present in that class: "Some sharp criticism of the Church and its leaders was being indulged in for permitting any company of converts to venture across the plains with no more supplies or protection than a handcart caravan afforded.
"An old man in the corner . . . sat silent and listened as long as he could stand it, then he arose and said things that no person who heard him will ever forget. His face was white with emotion, yet he spoke calmly, deliberately, but with great earnestness and sincerity.
"In substance [he] said, 'I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here, for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it and Sister Nellie Unthank whom you have cited was there, too. We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? . . .
" 'I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it.' "
He continues: " 'I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.
" 'Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? 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 Handcart Company.' "1

(You can read Pres. Faust's entire talk here. It's a great talk!)

Opportunities to do service

We had a great lesson in Relief Society yesterday. It was taken from Elder Eyring's talk in General Conference found here. It reminded me of this post I made last year. I pray that I might do better at seeing the needs of those around me. And providing opportunities for my children to give service as well.