I had a surgery back in August that has given me some quality reflection time. I have been writing down my thoughts and a couple friends encouraged me to share my thoughts with others who may enjoy reading my reflective thoughts, so here I am. I hope those who read my writings will enjoy them
Today is Easter Sunday and I have been reflecting the last few weeks
on what message I would like to share which would be in line with our preparations
for Easter Sunday and the week that led up to this beautiful day.
For several weeks I have found myself surrounded with sadness,
despair, lost hope and fear. As I have
found myself trying to support those around me, I have found myself facing some
of my greatest sorrows and greatest joys.
Today as I was listening to our program, I found the Spirit
whispering “Because of Him” and these are words that started pouring into my
mind:
Because of Him: I know that thou my sins be as scarlet they
shall become white as snow.
Because of
Him: I know that I will once again greet
my family and friends who were called to their Heavenly Home.
Because of Him: I know that all my adversities shall be but a
small moment and that He shall never forsake me.
Because of
Him: I know that this life is just a
test.
Because of
Him: I know that He hears my silent
heartfelt pleas.
Because of
Him: My soul is filled with His great
peace.
Because of
Him: My eyes are open to the divine
nature of everyone I meet.
Because of Him: I can walk and not be weary and run and not
faint
Because of
Him: I will come to know the purest love
and greatest joy only He can give,
How grateful I
am for all the wonderful blessings that have come.
On my birthday last year as I was sitting in the temple the spirit whispered, "enjoy today for tomorrow is just another day." He was not kidding. The next day friends I love and cherish started getting hit by the winds of adversity which continued into the New Year.
For the last several weeks I have been praying over my beloved friends who are facing so much adversity. I found my heart crying out, "Father O Father why hast thou forsaken them?"
As we journey together my heart has been racked with grief helplessness. Wanting to know how I could best support them. The Spirit led me to Job to the passage where his friends came and just sat with him. Offering their silent support and love. I am trying to be that friend but as my friends know there are times I'm at the tale end of that passage by being vocal and wanting to "fix" their ailments.
I'm a work in progress as I feel the need to "fix" start to arise, the Spirit gently says "be a friend like Jobs," (He is so aggravating at times but how I treasure my friendship and trust with him.) I can feel Heavenly Father's smile as He watches this "fixing" child try to follow the Spirits direction.
As I have been sitting in the temple these last few weeks. The spirit has been whispering other thoughts, " bitter, patience, endure" and then I'll have a snapshot of our beloved Savior kneeling in the Garden, all alone. I then find my mind trying to organize and arrange these words and cues into what I hope is a poem. I cried the first rough draft as I remembered I was the "angry and bitter one" at one time and then a beloved friends face flashed into my mind: "those who patiently endure." I was sobbing by the time I penned the words: "seeing our beloved Elder Brother kneeling in the garden, great drops of blood pouring from every pour and hearing His cry Abba, Abba why hast thou forsaken me," Then this amazing peace and love filled my soul as I penned these words, "Fear not my child, I trod the winepress alone, so I would know how to succor thee. You have my word I shall never forsake thee." There was my answer and a deeper appreciation for the Atonement. Some of those great drops of blood were me during my bitter and angry stage where I was "lost and all alone."
I opened my March Liahona and Elder Uchtdorf's talk immediately spoke to me, It was like a second witness to the words I had penned.
Below are the words I penned this last Sunday, followed by Elder Uchtdorf's inspired words. Maythey speak peace to your wounded heart.
I
Shall Never Forsake Thee
Many a time people find their hearts are turned heavenward
when a heart wrenching situation occurs.
One question they share, “Why O Father, why hast thou
forsaken me?”
When their pleas fall upon deaf ears, many become bitter
feeling lost and all alone.
There are those who patiently endure as they wait upon
their Eternal Father to answer their silent pleas.
Many a year pass by and your answer is then received.
You find your eyes opened and you witness your Elder
Brother, kneeling in a Garden with great drops of blood pouring from every
pore. Your anguished racked heart is
drawn to Him as you hear His anguished plea, “Abba, Abba, why hast thou
forsaken me?”
An overwhelming love fills your soul when you hear these
words, “I have trod the winepress alone, so I would know how to succor
thee. Fear not my child for I shall never
forsake thee.”
Lorie
Bishop
2023
“My Peace I Give unto You”
By Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
The same words Jesus spoke to the Sea of Galilee that stormy night, He says to us during the storms of our lives: “Peace, be still.”
Photograph via Getty Images
For my family and me, the cold winter of 1944 was a time of fear and uncertainty. With my father far away on the western front, my mother struggled to keep her four children fed and warm as war threatened our home in Czechoslovakia.
Each day the danger grew closer. Finally, my mother decided to flee to her parents’ home in eastern Germany. Somehow, she managed to get all of us on one of the last refugee trains heading west. Nearby explosions, worried faces, and empty stomachs reminded everyone on the train that we were traveling through a war zone.
One night after our train had stopped for supplies, my mother hurried off to search for food. When she returned, to her horror, the train carrying us children was gone!
Fraught with worry, she turned to God in desperate prayer and then frantically began searching the dark train station. She ran from track to track and from train to train. She knew that if her train departed before she found it, she might never see us again.
Storms in Our Lives
During the Savior’s mortal ministry, His disciples learned that He could calm the storms in our lives. One evening, after a full day of teaching by the seaside, the Lord suggested that they “pass over unto the other side” of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35).
After they had departed, Jesus found a spot to rest on the ship and fell asleep. Soon the skies darkened, “and there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full” (see Mark 4:37–38).
We don’t know how long the disciples struggled to keep the ship afloat, but at last they could wait no longer. Panicked, they cried out, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38).
All of us face sudden storms. In our mortal life of trials and tests, we may feel distressed, discouraged, and disappointed. Our hearts break for ourselves and those we love. We worry and fear and sometimes lose hope. During such times, we may also cry out, “Master, carest thou not that I perish?”
In my youth one of my favorite hymns was “Master, the Tempest Is Raging.”1 I could picture myself in the boat when “the billows [were] tossing high.” The crucial and most beautiful part of the hymn follows: “The winds and the waves shall obey thy will: Peace, be still.” Then comes the important message: “No waters can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies.”
If we welcome Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, into our boat, we need not be frightened. We will know that we can find peace amidst the storms that swirl inside us and around us. After His disciples cried out for help, Jesus “arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39).
The same words Jesus spoke to the Sea of Galilee that stormy night, He says to us during the storms of our lives: “Peace, be still.”
“Not as the World Giveth”
With the disciples, we may ask, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41).
Jesus is a man like no other. As the Son of God, He was called to fulfill a mission no other could fulfill.
Through His Atonement, and in a way we cannot fully comprehend, the Savior took upon Himself “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind” (Alma 7:11) and “the cumulative weight of all mortal sins.”2
Though He owed no debt to justice, He suffered the “whole … demands of justice” (Alma 34:16). In the words of President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015), President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “He had committed no wrong. Nevertheless, an accumulation of all of the guilt, the grief and sorrow, the pain and humiliation, all of the mental, emotional, and physical torments known to man—He experienced them all.”3 And He overcame them all.
Alma prophesied that the Savior “will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12).
Through a divine endowment born of searing torment, and out of love for us, Jesus Christ paid the price to redeem us, to strengthen us, and to save us. It is only through the Atonement that we can find the peace we so badly want and need in this life. As the Savior promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
The life and teachings of Jesus Christ give us ways to feel His peace if we will turn to Him.
Christ’s Image, by Heinrich Hofmann
Ways to Peace
Jesus Christ, who controls the elements, can also lighten our burdens. He has power to heal individuals and nations. He has shown us the way to true peace, for He is “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The peace the Savior offers could transform all of human existence if God’s children would allow it. His life and teachings give us ways to feel His peace if we will turn to Him.
“Learn of me,” He said, “and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:23).
We learn of Him as we lift up our souls in prayer, study His life and teachings, and “stand … in holy places,” including the temple (Doctrine and Covenants 87:8; see also 45:32). Attend the house of the Lord as often as you can. The temple is a peaceful refuge from the growing storms of our day.
My dear friend President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) taught: “As we go to the [temple], as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation. The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings peace to our souls—not the peace provided by men but the peace promised by the Son of God.”4
We listen to His words as we heed His teachings in the holy scriptures and from His living prophets, emulate His example, and come to His Church, where we are fellowshipped, taught, and nourished by the good word of God.
We walk in the meekness of His Spirit as we love as He loved, forgive as He forgave, repent, and make our homes places where we can feel His Spirit. We also walk in the meekness of His Spirit as we help others, joyfully serve God, and strive to become “peaceable followers of Christ” (Moroni 7:3).
These steps of faith and works lead to righteousness, bless us on our journey of discipleship, and bring us abiding peace and purpose.
“In Me Ye Might Have Peace”
On a dark night in a grim railroad station many years ago, my mother faced a choice. She could sit and bemoan the tragedy of having lost her children, or she could put her faith and hope into action. I am grateful that her faith overcame her fear and that her hope overcame her despair.
Finally, in a remote area of the station, she found our train. There, at last, we were reunited. That night, and during many stormy days and nights to come, my mother’s example of putting faith into action sustained us as we hoped and worked for a brighter future.
Today, many of God’s children find that their train, too, has been moved. Their hopes and dreams for the future have been carried away by war, pandemic, and loss of health, employment, educational opportunities, and loved ones. They are discouraged, lonely, bereft.
Brothers and sisters, dear friends, we live in perilous times. Nations are perplexed, judgment is upon the land, and peace has been taken from the earth (see Doctrine and Covenants 1:35; 88:79). But peace need not be taken from our hearts, even if we must suffer, grieve, and wait on the Lord.
Because of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, our prayers will be answered. Timing belongs to God, but I testify that our righteous desires will one day be realized and that all our losses will be made up to us, provided we use the divine gift of repentance and remain faithful.5
We will be healed—physically and spiritually.
We will stand pure and holy before the judgment bar.
We will be reunited with loved ones in a glorious resurrection.
Meanwhile, may we be comforted and encouraged as we rely on the Savior’s promise: “In me ye might have peace” (John 16:33).
I was recently sitting in the temple and the Spirit whispered this question, "What is a friend.?
I was surprised as I found myself having faces flooding my mind on who I considered "Friends." My heart smiled as their faces ran through my mind.
The spirit then went on to ask if my friends were like Job's three friends? Were they like the friends who stood by the Prophet Joseph Smith? Were they "fly by night friends? Friends of convenience, nurturing friends, long time friends, short term friends, good friends, best friends, or a friend in passing?
I found myself reflecting on the various friendships I have had and continue to have. Many memories flooded my mind as I reflected on them and my heart smiled at those I consider my true blue loyal friends.
Then the Spirit took me to the passage of scripture in the New Testament were Christ clothed himself and then knelt and washed the feet of His trusted and beloved disciples. I then had the words of a Kenneth Cope song run through my mind:
Greater Love
"If I had been there at his trial,
And watched as they mocked Israel's King,
I wonder if I would have tried to turn their hearts to Him,
If I had been there when they whipped him,
And watched as he fell to his knees,
Would I have been willing to offer my own life for Him,
For His friends, how he bled
His love for them was just as he said
Greater love he showed the greatest love, of all
If I had been there at the hillside when they fastened his hands to the cross,
I'm sure that my heart would have broken,
For His friends, For His friends,
And that's me if I do what he said
Would I give? Could I live my life like Jesus?
Jesus
Well now, it's been years since his lifetime,
But he and his love still remain,
And all that I want is to be like him,
He was all I hope to be,
I would give my life to be,
The kind of friend, Jesus was to me,
Greater love"
And in bold print in my mind "I would give my life to be the kind of friend, Jesus was to me."
That thought stopped me short as the Spirit started running through my mind faces of people that I had no desire to be friends with. As those faces ran through my mind I seen the Savior approaching those who many deemed not worthy of their time or friendship.
A knife sliced through my heart as I realized the reminder that the Spirit and my Heavenly Father were teaching me. Me who was always saying, "We are all children of an Eternal Heavenly Father who loves and each and every one of us...." And yet here I was staying in my comfort zone of "Friends whom I connected with." They also gave me the gentle reminder of my promise made many years ago to my Eternal Heavenly Father that my life was His....and upon hearing the above song for the first time I remember saying, "Oh, Heavenly Father I would give my life to be the kind of friend Jesus was to me." My mother always told me to be careful what you ask for :).
So, here in this New Year I am going to try and become a better friend to all that truly need a friend, And yes, I am going to lean on my current friends who happened to side with My Father in Heaven this go around.
What are friends a thoughtful soul once asked
There is the fly by night friends, the loyal friends,
the nurturing friend and your true-blue friends. What kind of friend are you?
Are you a friend like the ones who sat with Job
silently offering their quiet strength; or are you the type of friend that
would stand by your beloved prophet and give heed to his inspired words?
Or are you the type of friend who would kneel and wash
another’s feet?
Could you be a friend to the friendless or just a
friend to those who look and dress like you.
Imagine for a moment if you would, what it would be
like to be friend like the Savior has been to you.
I was visiting with a friend about some tender issues that troubled my heart and she shared with me her thoughts and then she made a comment that one lady was apologizing to her because of the busyness of her life and my friend shared with me, "I told her not to worry, I would meet her where she was."
I'll meet you where you are has been playing in my mind. Tonight I had dinner with some very special friends who have faced some challenges and as I was enjoying their company the thought ran through my mind, "I will meet you where you are."
Once home I started putting my thoughts on paper and then these words started flowing through my mind:
So many times one finds themselves travelling afar.
They turn around to look behind and hear these reassuring words,
"It's ok my child. I will meet you where you are."
At other times we find ourselves caught up in the hustle and bustle of this busy world and as we start to apologize for the busyness of our lives and we once again hear these reassuring words, "Its ok my child. I will meet you where you are."
And when we find ourselves lost and all alone in a dreary lonely world filled with deep despair, we catch a glimpse of a radiant light and hear once again those hope filled words, "Its ok my child. I will meet you where you are."
How grateful I am for my Eternal Father and the friends He has blessed me with and those friends He has entrusted to my care that we can meet where we are.
Ever since I can remember my mom and poppers made each one of my birthdays a very special day. Each birthday I would find myself surrounded by family and friends and my mother would bake me the most wonderful Strawberry cake. I have wonderful memories from those long lost days so many years ago.
In 1997 on my 32nd birthday I found myself alone on a birthday journey that would forever a change my life. My beloved parents were not able to share this birthday with me but I found myself surrounded by loved ones who had passed on and amazing woman whose eyes radiated a great love for me a total stranger and each gave me the most wonderful hugs.
Since that wonderful journey where I first entered the doors of our holy temple. I promised my Father in Heaven that I would spend each and every birthday with Him in His Holy House. I have kept that promise for the last 25 years and each year on my birthday I would be found in the temple with my beloved mom and poppers who are now on the other side along with the rest of my family basking in their love and my Eternal Father's love. I would then meet my two friends who I have come to refer as my northern stars and we would have a lovely dinner.
This year my excitement of my upcoming birthday was there but I sensed this year was going to be extra special. The Spirit kept whispering, "enjoy your special day because tomorrow will be just another day." I found myself perplexed at this thought but continued to count the days. Two of my beloved friends are temple workers and their day at the temple so happened to fall on my birthday, so I sent them a card and invited them to share my special day with me. It warmed my heart when they shared with me their appt had been made. I then found myself visiting with my Heavenly Father and sharing with Him how I so wanted another dear friend to join us that day and how neat that would be; but closed with but if not that's okay.
My special day arrived and I was so excited!!! I took my camera so I could get my yearly picture of the temple. I caught a nice shot and as I was heading to the temple entrance there stood my special friend. My heart jumped for joy as I shared with her that I had asked our Father in Heaven to place a desire in her heart to spend my special day with me.
As I was sitting between these two beloved sisters I felt myself being overcome with emotions. Not only did I find myself basking in their love but all my family and Heavenly Father were there with us. Tears flowed down my face as the spirit whispered, "This is the way it was meant to be...your's is a little late." Then once again, "enjoy this special day because tomorrow is just another day."
The session was AMAZING!!!! My heart was so full of joy and love. I found myself in awe just as I had been in 1997. Afterwards I met my northern stars and we laughed until we cried and had such a wonderful time together. As we were leaving the restaurant basking in the warm love that surrounded us I heard them say, "Until next year. This was such a great night." Oh, how I love them.
As we were parting and the day was winding down the spirit whispered once again, "Enjoy the night for tomorrow is just another day. And he was right. I woke with an afterglow of my birthday but it was just another day. A day to get back to work. As I have been reflecting on this wonderful experience these words started running through my mind:
Tomorrow is Just Another Day
One has those special days that are near and dear to their heart
The birth of a child, that child's first steps
One's first love, A school graduation and one's wedding day
But there is a day more special than most
and that's the day you left your Heavenly Home to embark on your mortal journey
Each year when that special day comes around your Heavenly Father ensures its more than just a day
But then you have an extra special day where your
Eternal Father blesses you with an unexpected gift
And you feel a special kinship with a chosen few who chose to share this special day with you
And as you're basking in the warmth of their great love the Spirit gently whispers
"Cherish this special day because tomorrow will be just another day."
I am so blessed to have amazing friends that fill my heart with great joy and peace. Yesterday I got to spend a few hours with such friends who have been caregivers for their elderly relatives since the first day I met them. So, I wasn't surprised when they shared with me they were bringing their elderly mother into their home to take care of her. Incredible love for this beautiful couple filled my soul as I shared with them there were great blessing in store for them.
A total stranger on a FB post had shared how she was caring for her elderly mother. As I read her post that same radiating love filled my soul as I assured her great blessings were in store.
I am so grateful that my dearest friends are some of those few who chose to take care of their elderly parents by bringing them into their home. I am also blessed to have colleagues that fill my heart with joy as I witness them showering our adopted grandmas and grandpas with their unconditional love.
As I was reflecting on them a poem started flowing into my mind. My way of sharing with them how amazing they are and how grateful I am to have them as friends.
Still needs some work but I love the message.
In the premortal existence before we were all born, our
Eternal Father in Heaven called a meeting with a special few.
You are preparing for a mortal journey where you will start
young and then you will grow old.Some
will have their minds begin to fade, others will have many aches and pains and
there will be some who will face diseases that will eat at their good health;
and so my dear children when that day comes what suggest you on how to care for
them?
A vibrant discussion soon ensued where many ideas and suggestions
were then shared.But in the back of the
room stood a quiet few who silently observed.
Noting their silence our great Father fastened his gaze
upon them and asked, “What say ye dear children who silently observe?”Nervous to answer one finally spoke:
“Our Holy Father here is our desire, let us your silent few
take them and care for them when that day arrives.All we ask of you is that you grant us the
strength and courage to stay by their side and let our hearts be filled with
love and patience as we witness their decline.”
Pleased with their humble answer our Father then declared, “Blessed
art thou and how great shall be your joy when you return to your Heavenly Home."
I enjoy listening to various insights that different pastors share from their reading of the bible. Some are quite enlightening but there is one that every chance he gets he takes a jab at members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I just find myself sadly shaking my head because he is so off base with his thoughts.
Today he was commenting that "Mormons don't worship the Christ that is found in the bible. They worship the Christ of Joseph Smith." I was dumbfounded and found myself shaking my head sadly. Joseph Smith was a young man looking for answers and he was reading in the bible James 1:5
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and abraideth not; and it shall be given him."
If one listens to our General Conferences speaker after speaker will quote from the Old and New Testament and all encourage us to look and follow our Master the Savior and emulate our lives after His.
My thoughts than turned to the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5-7. Then I remembered President Hinkley's Beatitude's:
1. Be Grateful
2. Be Smart
3. Be Clean
4. Be True
5. Be Humble
6. Be Prayerful
All traits our Lord and Savior exhibited throughout his life.
Then the words to "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" started playing in my mind:
1. I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.
2. He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.
3. He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.
4. He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
There is no doubt in my mind that The Lord and Savior that I not only love and worship but who is my best friend is the One and Only Christ found throughout the pages of the bible and it is Him that I strive to be like each and every day. I have felt His great love for me and my neighbors for His words and actions are written in the soft fleshy tablet of my heart and it all started with "Cause the bible told me so."
