Always Be Yourself....It's a Good Thing!

I found this in my drafts folder and realized how far I've come over the past year. Life continues to amaze me! I hope you enjoy this and continue to read about my journey. Elder Otis has been out for over a year now. I can't wait to speak to him at Christmas!.......This was written a year ago.

Recently, our youngest son entered the Mission Training Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is now beginning a two year mission as a full time missionary. We are so happy for him.

I haven't been writing very much here or anywhere for that matter. I'm trying to correct that starting today. I've been caught up in a trial of my heart, and the healing of my body that has been all consuming--The past six months or so deflated my spirits and made me feel very sad. It has be alleviated by getting healthy again and our youngest son entering the MTC and serving a mission. All is well now. I feel like I can move forward at this time. It's wonderful!

I belong to a women's group for missionary moms. I love it! It makes me realize how loved we are by our beloved Heavenly Father. I see their struggles and their faith and my own spirit soars. I'm able to help where I'm needed and that service heals my own spiritual wounds. Service is so key in moving outside ourselves and our pain and suffering. I know it's true.

This week I've conversed with women all over the world whom I have come to love. They cheer me on and I am able to respond in kind. It's a blessing in my life to be able to help in some small way.

We are all so different and yet, so alike in our struggles as Latter-day Saint women! We are really not ever alone. Heavenly Father most often works through others who don't even know they are helping to have our prayers answered.

I've been so blessed with the sweetest daughter in law in the world! We all love her dearly and soon our second son will be marrying an equally amazing woman. Two daughters in one year! Wow! I'm overjoyed to be so blessed! This is a very happy time of my life indeed. Jason and Julie's wedding was last May and Matt and Jelly's wedding will be on December 30Th. I can't wait to see our kids! How I've missed them as they attend college!

A quote really struck me as true this week. "Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind, and the ones who mind, don't matter!" So true! In my younger years I remember feeling stiff and even superior with excess pride.To my regret, I often judged others.

As my life progressed and I matured, I loosened up and had many life lessons that made me realize that pride was baggage. That is was painful. As I set it aside the blessings began to flow into my life. I learned to love myself and others more fully. How blessed my life became! Those blessings continue as I can see the love in the things others say and do and don't take offense so easily. It's a good thing too.

One Nation Under God.......please protect us

(Above, picture taken by Jason E. Otis of the Provo Temple in Utah)

My emotions have been all over the map this morning. I woke with a simple feeling of joy in my heart as I realized that our financial concerns as a family will be over in a months time. It is a comfort to know this when Terry is unable to work. I was filled with gratitude for Heavenly Fathers concern and blessings, for all His children. Gosh He amazes me sometimes!

Then I received word from a dear friend and fellow missionary mom. My chest tightened. She told of how there were letters sent to Salt Lake and LA temples, laced with mysterious whit powder. One was also sent to the Knights of Columbus, which is a Catholic organization. Then another was sent to the FBI in Salt Lake city ; as I later found on the internet.They seem to think it's connected to Prop 8. No workers have become ill, yet. How I'm praying for them!

My friend says that, "I KNOW even if it were Anthrax or some thing terribly dangerous, the Lord can protect the temple workers."

I am so proud of her and her faith! We each need to have more faith than ever before while the world around us goes nuts. I refuse to hate. The members of our church are the same. We will forever, forgive and pray for those who wish us harm.

Matthew 5:44-46

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?"

I pray my sons will be protected with so much hate being sent our way for standing up for what is right---for what we know to be true, in this free country we live in. Though persecution is something we know all too well, we can continue to pray for those who would do us harm.

Terrorism is never the answer to a disagreement or the passing of an amendment! I pray that those who are offended by our views can stop the boycotts, stop the loud obscene marches on innocent towns and cities. Stop the hatred.

We are not haters of men. We love our brothers and sisters. Below is an excerpt from Elder Otis's latest letter. I will not be posting his full letters here on my blog anymore. To keep him safe.

"We all need to do everything we can to be worthy and to share the gospel. The only thing that will never change in all this, is the Lord. "Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth will go on boldly and nobly" just like Joseph said.""

No matter what, faithful people of the world won't give in to terrorism. We won't give up, or give into threats against our beliefs. We will continue to remain faithful to our beliefs and our Heavenly Father.

We love the sinner and hate the sin, it's as simple as that. It is what we know to be right and true. It will not change. This country continues to remain One Nation Under God. May He protect us all from each other. I pray for the hate to end.

"The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected!"

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Isaiah 11:11-12

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt . . . and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth."

"That ensign was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was established for the last time, never again to be destroyed or given to other people. . . . Following the raising of this ensign, the Lord sent forth his elders clothed with the priesthood and with power and authority, among the nations of the earth, bearing witness unto all peoples of the restoration of his Church, and calling upon all the children of men to repent and receive the gospel . . . and they are still preaching the gospel and gathering out from the nations the seed of Israel unto whom the promise was made" (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, p. 254-255). It is a comfort to me during my hardest days to know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will never be taken from the earth again. As my sons preach the gospel on separate ends of the earth I feel such a deep sense of gratitude and love for our Savior for all He has done for us. It inspires me to strive to do much good while I am here. It is the same for my sons. The following is a letter from Elder Otis in CA. Tomorrow I'll post the follow up letter from Elder Otis in Russia. Keep religious freedom alive in California everyone! If you don't live there, speak to someone who does. The family unit and religious freedom are under attack in that state. Pray hard for our brothers and sisters who have had their cars keyed and their homes violated while standing up for what is right! Our Weekly Letter From Elder Otis in Los Angeles: "Talk about a spiritual smack in the face! You know I don't think there is a thing that I can write to compare with everything you guys have written this week. The miracles never end it seems. I guess I'll just write how my week is going as I usually do ; ) I got a new companion! His name is Elder Brantly and he's straight from the MTC. So on top of being a district leader I get to train as well. Life is good. Elder Brantly is from Murray, Utah which is about 10 minutes south of Salt Lake City. If there ever was a stereotypical greenie he is it. hehehehe Talk about greenie fire! He's got a lot of really good ideas and I'm doing my best to direct them and point him in the right direction. I'm grateful for the chance to train a new missionary. My trainer wasn't all that great so I know I need to do the best I can. President Blackburn has stressed the importance of this calling. He said "Right now you 5 missionaries (the trainers) have the most important calling in this mission. You are the ones to show these missionaries how to act and how to work. What you teach them will affect this mission for a long time to come. You're the best this mission has got and I expect only the best from you." NO PRESSURE MAN! Yikes! So mom, when you say to keep working hard to the end of our missions you don't have to worry. I won't have the chance to slack off even if I wanted to. President has a funny way of making sure of things like that. I just have to say how absolutely amazing it is that the Lord has taken care of our family the way He has. Everyone always says that the Lord has blessed them for serving a mission. I know I can say the same and list the examples. I also know that we will be blessed far into the future for serving the Lord. I know the gospel is true and I know the Lord is watching out for us. As long as we stay faithful we won't ever have to worry. There will be hard times to come but we will always be able to get through. I think we are at something of a turning point. I know that I have a greater desire to serve the Lord and I think the rest of you do as well. Because of that our lives have changed. We are all going to have opportunities to serve the Lord well after our missions are over. I remember a blessing that you once received mom. Something about your sons having great callings in the church. I know the Lord has qualified me thus far so I don't think I need to worry much. I'll just serve Him the best I can and He'll take care of the rest. Things are heating up in politics around here as I'm sure they are around the country. Right now we're all praying that Proposition 8 will pass. Thousands of hours have been put into it by the members of the church here. The prophet has asked us all to pray today. It's getting down to the wire and everyone is working hard. The opposition hasn't been kind. People have had their houses graffitied and their cars keyed for having prop 8 signs up. Along with all of their signs being stolen. You can actually see a lot of it on Youtube apparently. It just shows you what kind of people are on the other side of this. And somehow they call us the bigots. These really are the latter days. Anyway, I'm so glad to hear about that check coming in. And dad I'm praying for you to get better soon. I really hope you get the settlement that you're working toward. Whatever happens, the Lord will take care of us as you've said. You're all in my prayers. I'll keep working hard so the Lord will bless us. THE STANDARD OF TRUTH HAS BEEN ERECTED! I love you all. Have a wonderful week. Elder Jason E. Otis"

Quotes from Modern Day Prophets

I love to quote our Prophets of old and the present day Prophets as well. I hope you enjoy this post today and take the time to open up your scriptures to find answers to your daily problems and add light to your day. Have a wonderful day everyone!

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Gordon B. Hinckley

"May I remind us . . . that if only each of us would reflect occasionally on that Christ-given mandate [Matthew 7:12] and make an effort to observe it, this would be a different world. There would be greater happiness in our homes; there would be kinder feelings among our associates; there would be much less of litigation and a greater effort to compose differences. There would be a new measure of love and appreciation and respect. "There would be more generous hearts, more thoughtful consideration and concern, and a greater desire to spread the gospel of peace and to advance the work of salvation among the children of men" (The Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 240). QUOTE OF THE DAY: Howard W. Hunter "James tells us that true religion is a devotion to God, demonstrated by love and compassion for fellowmen, coupled with unworldliness. Such a statement seems too simple to be sufficient, but in its simplicity it speaks an important truth. Restated, it may be said that true religion consists not only in refraining from evil (that is, remaining unspotted), but in deliberately and purposefully doing acts of kindness and service to others" (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p. 263). Oh! I almost forgot! Today might just be the day our son Ryan receives his mission call! I'll make sure at post an announcement for all to read, if in fact it is! Where do you think he'll be called to? Feel free to post your guess in the comment section. This will be fun! Valora,