STANDING FOR SOMETHING

Originally I was going to post about how I never make New Year's resolutions. Why don't I make them each year? Because I don't believe in the once a year hoopla of tossing out the words and then actually tossing away the plan by the end of February or March. I am a FIRM believer that goals should be made continuously and worked on continuously. I don't wait until the New Year to start losing weight. I don't wait until the New Year to decide to be a better parent. I'm always making goals and working to achieve them. When and if I achieve one, I set a another and work on it along side other ones.

I'm not saying that I disagree with people who make New Year's resolutions. Not at all. More power to those people and I wish them the best of luck. I'm just saying that it's not something that works for me.

Anyway, the reason for the post subject change is that I felt inspired to set a new goal because of a speech given by Elder M. Russell Ballard at BYU Hawaii this past December about using "new media" to support the teachings of the church. Here is the link.

He says that he would urge us today to use the Internet — including blogs and other forms of “new media” — to contribute to a national conversation about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“We cannot stand on the sidelines while others, including our critics, attempt to define what the Church teaches,” he said.
He's sooo right. There are so many misconceptions about our religion. I am a frequent user of Google and Google images. When I google anything about the church, I always see the sites touting the problems with "mormonism" and lds bashing. If only people could understand that any site (in my opinion) that uses the word, "mormonism" is going to have negative things to say about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they could stay away from it and go to the source of truth. If anyone reading this isn't a member of the church, but would like more information, accurate information...why not go to the official church website? Try this link to the site: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
If the link doesn't work, go to www.lds.org

The official church website is the best place to get accurate information. There is so much knowledge to be learned at the site.

Back to Elder Ballards speech....he goes on to say that there were too many conversations going on about the Church for Church representatives to respond to each individually, and that Church leaders “can’t answer every question, satisfy every inquiry and respond to every inaccuracy that exists.”

He said students should consider sharing their views on blogs, responding to online news reports and using the “new media” in other ways.

But he cautioned against arguing with others about their beliefs. “There is no need to become defensive or belligerent,” he said. Remember as the Proverb states that “a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

I can see how someone can be angered easily when they are provoked on a message board or something similar online. I do my best to stay away from those type of areas on the internet, but this is my own personal blog. I think it's about time that I stand for something loud and clear. I'll be adding more pictures, more views and more testimony of my beliefs in the coming posts. We live and learn by example. I want to set a good example and spread the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm a strong Christian woman who loves the Lord, my family, and the country that I live in. I can be a voice for the Lord or keep my views quiet and fade into the background. I love to blog and I'll stand tall in my beliefs on this blog.

Elder Ballard suggests that we make sure that the choices we make in the use of new media are choices that expand our minds, increase our opportunities, and feed our souls.
I love to read other blogs that uplift me, so thank you to the many other bloggers out there who contribute such wonderful examples in the blogging world! Just as Elder Ballard states, my position is solid; the Church is true. We simply need to have a conversation, as friends in the same room would have, always guided by the prompting of the Spirit. That is my continued goal.

Would you like to join me?

A long goodbye

http://www.actionalz.org/

Today has special meaning to me. Both my Mother & Grandma (we called her Nannie) had Alzheimer's Disease. Nannie died in 1984. My Mom died in 2002, but it feels like yesterday. Since today is World Alzheimer's Day, I want to raise awareness about this disease. It's too painful to talk about my own experiences with both my Mother and Nannie being taken away from us by this long suffering disease. I will say that it was the longest goodbye. My Mother died a little bit each day because of this illness. For those who say it's not hereditary, I say, "Ohhh yes it is". How often would a mother and a daughter both lose their lives to the same disease if it weren't hereditary? It's about time someone found a cure. Visit the site above and raise your own awareness.

I miss my Mom.

My Mom and Dad the day Jillian was born 14 years ago.

Mom & Jillian at our family reunion in 1994.