things of a spiritual nature

Considering our climate, I haven't been in the market for a sled. In fact, I was sure our tobogganing days were over after bidding Salt Lake and her snow-covered hills 'farewell' in January. So, when Mother Nature proved my assumption incorrect, I found myself scrambling for an alternative. Ta-dah!
After spotting an empty storage container, the kids were in business!

On Saturday, Andrew and the kids met up with friends (who kindly shared their sleds) at a nearby park for an afternoon of sledding. I skipped out on the activity so I could prepare for our babysitter (squeeee!!!). We had a sitter scheduled so we could attend the evening session of Stake Conference, which ended up canceled due to the ice rink our area had transformed into. Andrew and I kept our plans with the sitter and went on a date with two other couples.

Being with my husband, eating that salad and laughing with those friends did my soul good. Speaking of my soul, Sunday was a spiritual feast.

Stake Conference was broadcast to our area (South Carolina, Georgia and Florida) at 1:00 p.m. It was a new and special experience to hear directly from President Eyring, Elder Perry and other Church Leaders in SLC via satellite. I felt comfort in knowing that they are aware of the Lord's Southern saints and the unique challenges we have. Busy keeping two children quiet, doesn't permit one to take notes. Please allow me a moment of reflection before the highlights of their words leave my brain permanently.

Faith and fear can not co-exist. Cultivate faith through righteous living. Take heart when faced with trials, the Lord has prepared the way and endured that struggle already. You are not alone. When persecuted, you find yourself in the same company of the early saints. That thought gave me strength. I have to say, I've experienced nothing but kindness and respect from my Southern neighbors. Still, the misconceptions surrounding my faith, at times, is palpable and I can only hope that friends will have the courage to ask rather than turn to a false or incomplete source.

Elder Eyring talked of our responsibility to rescue our kin through family history and missionary work. He noted that throughout the Church he has seen a surge in the efforts of young families raising children. As we follow the council to implement daily prayer, home evening and scripture study, our young children will recognize the feelings of the Spirit, benefit from that peace and be equipped to reject evil. We won't have the need to rescue our children if we do our part now. He said that. That is a promise I will cling too.

They testified of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. I echo their sentiment that it stands as tangible evidence of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's a companion to the Bible. Paired together, they stand as a solid witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ. When the Book of Mormon is studied and prayed over, the experience that Joseph Smith had at the tender age of 14 can not be denied.

The experience of the 'first vision' is one I shared while out walking with a non-member friend last year. And I have to be honest, I probably sounded like a total crazy person. As I spoke, I was simultaneously praying to be articulate, to have the Spirit penetrate her heart, etc. I went inside feeling like I had compromised a budding friendship. I felt like I failed and doubted my decision. The good news is, we're still friends :) .And I feel that before they (or anyone else) is allowed to label us as 'crazy,' they have to first act on our invitation to ponder and pray about that book. The feelings I have for the Book of Mormon is what I fall back on when being a member of the Church is hard. I regard Joseph Smith as a Prophet of God; so do 13 million other people (see LDS/Mormon statistics here). All that we do as latter-day saints, hinges on that.

Alas, I've diverted.

My words don't properly convey the beauty of the messages shared, but I have to tell you that my testimony has been strengthened while being here and that my gratitude for the ward family we know and love is great.

Entertaining two children (in a dark chapel, mind you) was tricky when you're doing your best to pay attention. Not to mention, it was Henry's nap time. The last 45 minutes, he passed out on the bench; which left me optimistic for a happy afternoon.

(Henry, post-nap)

It took him a long (emphasis on the word, long) while to recover from waking up an hour and a half too soon. For Andrew, his tears were unfortunate considering the lovely lighting of the day. He wanted to take some photos when we came home. This is what Henry thought of that idea. Eliza was happy to oblige his request. I did my best to distract Henry from the cruelty that is exhaustion.Cheer up, Henry! It's February!