Has It Really Been Five Years?

Most of you weren't reading my blog five years ago. That's okay.

Five years ago, I snapped a picture of Brad for this post--the day he was sustained as the bishop of our ward.

My photography skills have improved a lot since then--the flash shadow, the composition, the editing. ARGH. This is not a post about my photography skills. I had taken the picture to mark how grey his hair was at that moment in time--still dark on top, with a little distinguished white at the temples.

Here is a picture I snapped of Brad as he left for work Monday morning.

Brad was released as the bishop of our ward (congregation) on Sunday. The grey has crept up and covered most of his head now and the dark hairs are definitely in the minority, but he's still sporting the same 'do.

Many of you are not members of the LDS Church, and you probably don't know much about being an LDS bishop. Here's a quick summary. What is not included in that summary is how much time it takes to serve as a bishop (with no salary) and how much a bishop falls in love with the people of his ward. It was labor, but a true labor of love as he came to know the youth and kids and families who live in our ward.

Sunday was a emotional day for me. Not only was it Ben's first Sunday in the mission field, but it was the last Sunday Brad would serve as bishop. I was a mess, from the second I woke up until I got home from Church around 5 pm. The new bishop, his wife, and his new counselors were asked to speak, as were Brad and both of his counselors and me. I wanted to share with you what I said to our ward family, and I hope that it gives you a better understanding of what it's like to serve as a bishop of an LDS congregation.

I’ve reflected a lot about the time I’ve spent sitting on our bench in this chapel over the last five years. We used to sit behind the Wudels, much closer to the front, but having to manage my wild monkeys alone pushed me closer and closer to the back as I tried to minimize the commotion of Denton kids being regularly taken out. When Brad was sustained, I was eight months pregnant with Eve. Tucker was a senior, and Hyrum was 2 ½ years old. Our bench has changed a lot in that time, and hopefully gotten a little bit quieter as well. We may be back up front soon, but we’ll see.

Think about how your own bench here in the chapel has changed over the past five years. How many callings have you had? I’ve been a RS teacher (twice, actually), a Primary counselor, a Stake Institute teacher, a Sunday school teacher, and now the choir accompanist. Have you moved here since then? Have you welcomed babies or sent off missionaries or married off children or lost loved ones?

In these last five years, you all have never been far from Brad’s thoughts. So many times, your families’ lives have interwoven with his. So many happy memories.

• He’s cannonball’ed with your children and reminded me to get more tootsie rolls at Sam’s Club so he could dole them out—one per customer—on Sunday.
• He’s trekked miles across the dusty Arizona desert with your youth and counseled them as they received temple recommends.
• He’s watched your young men and women leave for missions and proudly embraced them when they return.
• He’s attended baptisms, endowments, and sealings, and held many of your newborn children in his arms.
• He’s visited many of your in your homes and invited others out to lunch and remembered others at the holidays with special celebrations.

He’s been bishop of the 30^th ward for about 250 Sundays. Most of those Sundays I would roll over and go back to sleep when his alarm went off—signalling time for him to prepare for early morning meetings. I will say that on the Saturday nights of General Conference, he would stretch out in bed and say, “I get to sleep in tomorrow!” and I would be lucky to see him downstairs and ready for conference before 8:55 am.

I’ve seen so many miracles in your lives, both small and great, as he’s served—from getting a cell signal in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean just long enough for the temple to call verifying a young woman’s worthiness—to being inspired to hold a ward fast for a family to be brought into our ward and seeing that miracle happen right on my street.

I’ve heard him pray for many of you by name as you prepared for baptism or temple ordinances or faced the loss of loved ones. I’ve heard him include the names of countless pairs of missionaries who have served in our ward boundaries, and I’ve heard him pray for many more of you as he’s repeated, “for those in the ward who are struggling at this time.” On those nights, he often would linger longer on his knees as he privately supplicated the Lord on your behalf.

I’ve seen him change into a white shirt and tie during the day or after he was ready for bed at night, telling me who was in the hospital or who had just lost their son or simply that “someone” needed him and he would be gone for a while.

When the announcement was made that a new bishopric would be sustained, I got comments that usually fell into one of two categories: Some people would say, “You get your husband back!” Though I do feel a lot like Hannah as I have “lent my boys to the Lord” for their two-year missionary service, I never felt like I lost Brad while he was the bishop. I’ve heard it said that when a young man dedicates two years of his life to serving a mission at 18, he is tithing one-tenth of his life back to the Lord. Brad is almost 50, and I can see how he has once again willingly tithed one-tenth of his life as he’s served as bishop these past five years.

While some comments congratulated me on surviving, other comments touched my heart deeply. Some of you have quietly told me, with tears in your voice, “Thank you. No one will ever know what Bishop Denton has done for me (or for our family or for our son or for our daughter).” I will never know, but I have seen the change that has come upon him as he has sacrificed and labored and prayed and partnered with our God to help bring to pass “the immortality and eternal life” of the members of our ward. He has developed compassion and patience and empathy and wisdom—and an understanding of the power of the Atonement that he couldn’t have gained any other way.

So, as you look down at our bench in the chapel today and see our husband and dad sitting with us for the first time in Eve’s life, I hope you see how much you and your family have grown closer to the Savior over the past five years. I want to thank you for praying for him, for sustaining him, and for loving him. I need to thank you for allowing him into your lives, for allowing him to serve you, and for helping him to grow. While I have had my own stormy moments where I struggled and begged the Lord to help me to change my heart or to forgive or to be forgiven during the last five years, I need to thank the Lord for bringing the blessings of heaven down on our home over this time.

It is truly a blessing to serve the Lord in any capacity in any church anywhere in the world. It may be the end of his time serving as bishop, but I know that he will have a new calling and a new job and a new group of people to love very soon. 

For now, Hyrum and Evie will love having Dad sit with them on our bench again. And so will I.

If you have any questions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), leave me a comment or send me an email. I will do my best to try and answer them.

I Always Want to Be with My Own Family . . .

Final question:  I know that when you are married in the temple, you are sealed to your husband for eternity.  Any children born into that marriage are automatically sealed to you.  But what happens when those children grow up and get sealed and have their own children?  Are they all sealed to you too?  Will everyone in the celestial kingdom just end up being sealed to each other?  I have been dying to ask someone about this.  Please tell me what you think!

I purposely saved this question for last because, as you know, my family is my favorite thing in the world. For more general information on marriage, click here.

source

June 23, 1989--I was almost twenty years old and that day would change my life literally forever. At 9:25 am in the Salt Lake City temple, Brad and I were married for time and sealed together for all eternity.  The covenants that we made with each other and with God would not only keep us together while we live here on earth, but these sacred promises extend even after we die--no "until death do we part." Always.  I would always have Brad by my side, and any children who came to join our family would be ours forever, because our family was sealed by a covenant unbreakable by time or death.

I knew that this was the beginning of everything I'd ever dreamed of--a handsome husband, and children who, one by one, expanded our family's circle of love.  Each one came and I was almost surprised how I instantly loved them with all my soul and how I almost forgot what life was ever like without them.

For thirteen years, I kind of took these promises for granted.  I went along, busily living my life and raising my family, learning to love most of my job as mother of my family.  Then, my whole world came crashing down around me.

On September 10, 2002, I lost my fifth child, a stillborn daughter.
So much of that time in my life is a blur--barely suffering through each torturous day, feeling her loss and my pain so intensely that I couldn't eat or sleep.
So much of that time in my life is sacred to me--lessons I learned through my suffering that I know God couldn't have taught me any other way.  I learned compassion.  I learned patience.  I learned about pain and suffering, and I learned that I was stronger than I ever thought possible.

Most importantly, I remembered something I'd always known--families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan.  I knew that even though my pain was real and overwhelming, God's plan covered my loss, and if I am faithful to the covenants I made in the temple and at baptism, one day I will have my sweet, tiny tiny daughter again.  I will see her, comb her hair, look into her eyes, hold her close to me, and never let her go again.  The promise of this eternal blessing is what got me through that dark time in my life.

The pain of this trial has lessened over time, but the scar has never disappeared. I often credit that experience with the miracles that are my last three children.  Someday I will share all of their birth stories and the lessons I learned through bringing their spirits to earth.

Life moves on, and as sure as rainbows follow rain, children grow up and move out and find someone they love above all the others.  They decide it's time to get married.  When Heidi told me she had found "the one,"  I wasn't quite ready to have her leave the nest, but from the first day I met Sam, I have been amazed at the ease with which he has slid into our family--never missing a beat--and he loves and takes care of my daughter in ways that make me proud.  The day that they were sealed in the Mesa, Arizona temple was a day of joy and celebration, for all of us.

Now that I am entering the next phase of life--the next generation of Denton descendants--these covenants mean even more to me, because I know how far-reaching and vital these promises are.  Ellie is sealed to her parents, Heidi is sealed to Sam, Sam is sealed to his parents, and Heidi is sealed to us.  I am sealed to Brad, and I am sealed to my parents and my siblings, who are in turn each sealed to their spouses and children.

It's a never-ending chain, where not only immediate family but extended family will be able to eternally continue those loving bonds fostered on earth.  This chain isn't as much like the chain on a swing as it is like a chain-link fence--the chains go back generations as well as across generations.  The goal of eternal marriage is like they say in Lilo and Stitch:  Ohana means family.  Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

Life will always throw us a curve ball when we least expect it.  I take great comfort in knowing that if anything ever happens to a member of my family, we will be together forever, as long as we keep our part of the covenant, stay obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end of our life on earth.


And I wouldn't want to miss out on a single moment with this bunch.  This is where I belong.  Always.

Thanks for taking the time to read my posts this week.  I would love to hear your comments or any further questions you may have.  It has been a joy for me to think about what I believe, why I live it, and how to share it with you.

Fifth post in a series of five:

Monday: Why I Believe

Tuesday: Missions and the Plan of Salvation

Wednesday: The Son of God, Birth and Conception of Jesus, Mormons and the Trinity

Yesterday: The Bible and Other Sacred Texts

The Bible and Other Sacred Texts

Before starting today's post, I would like to respond to a few comments from yesterday. Brittany and Alycia kindly corrected me on an error I made.  Catholics do not worship Mary.  I had mistakenly thought from all the small shrines I see in people's yards and from cathedrals I've attended that it was worshipful instead of respectful.  Thank you for your kind correction, and I will adjust my thinking accordingly.

And this is Erika's question from yesterday.  She wrote:
That's very interesting about God and Jesus being flesh and bones. I've never thought of them in that way, but it actually makes sense. Particularly in thinking about Heaven on Earth, or the new Earth. It definitely would be easier to explain them to my children that way as well. What would you recommend reading to understand that belief more? Thanks for this series. I truly respect your willingness to be so open.

I was feeling the exact same way about all of you.  I have been happily surprised at the responses, comments, emails, phone calls and texts I've received about this series.  Thank you for being so accepting, understanding, and truly kind, even disagreeing with respect.  I knew there were people out there that could discuss religion openly and without conflict.  You are amazing. 
In regards to your question, the best place I've found to answer questions about God the Father is this link on lds.org.  If you have any further questions, feel free to email me, and I'll answer as best I can.

Today's questions:

Do Mormons believe in the inerrancy of the Bible? 

I hope anyone who knows me in real life knows how I feel about the scriptures.  I love them.  I love reading them, I love comparing and contrasting them, I love teaching them, I love searching them, and I especially love finding answers to my life's challenges in them.  I try to study them every day, but I am far from perfect on this.  Sometimes life crowds out my time with the scriptures, and when I find my way back, I feel like I am back in the arms of a friend.  Richard Scott, another apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave a talk on the subject of scripture study just two weeks ago.  He said, "Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ." Read his complete talk here.

The Bible--how I love it.  I love to read about the life of Christ and His apostles in the New Testament.  I feel of His love for others in His parables and stories.  The Old Testament has some of my favorite stories to teach young people of my Church, especially the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.  How many stones did David take for his pouch?  Five.  How many did he need? One.  Why did he take five?  He knew the Lord would help him, but he didn't know when and he needed to be prepared.  Kids can understand this and relate.

As members of my Church, we use the King James Version of the Bible.  There are so many different versions and translations of the Bible that it's hard to know which version is closest to the original, and our Church has decided to use this version.

When I studied Medieval History, I became intrigued with the translation and reproduction process involved with copying scripture.  I know some people believe that truths were maliciously removed by leaders or purposely changed to fit different schools of thought, but my personal belief is that many, many pious and righteous men spent their entire lives meticulously copying or translating these holy words, and I know most tried to do their best to be as accurate (and as beautiful) as possible.  Over as many centuries and editions as the Bible has traveled, I'm sure mistakes were made, however innocently or purposely.  As members of the Church, we believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.  How are inaccuracies determined?  Individually and through personal study.

Are there any other texts Mormons consider sacred or as God's Word?

If you've heard of the Mormons, I'm sure you've heard of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This volume of scripture is what separates us from other Christian denominations. If you would like to read more information on The Book of Mormon, click here for more in-depth answers listed on mormon.org. The Book of Mormon teaches of Jesus Christ from every page.  It contains the record of people who left the Old World, led by God to a New World.  It recounts their history and their church.  It also relates Christ's appearance to them after His resurrection. (We believe that it was to these people Jesus was referring when He said, "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold" in John 10:16.)

We also include two other books as our scripture: the Doctrine and Covenants--a set of revelations given to leaders of the Church since Joseph Smith's time, and the Pearl of Great Price--Joseph Smith's translation of Matthew and writings of Abraham and Moses, and accounts of Joseph's experiences.  These four books make up the canon of our Church.  All four are considered God's Word to His people today, with no book being more valued than another.

It's impossible to know what you think of a book without reading it.  In all honesty, I have only read most of the Old Testament, a hole in my study that I will one day fill.  I have read the New Testament quite a few times, as well as the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. I have read The Book of Mormon many times in my life, and each time I come away having learned something different and new.  I spent the last year of my life teaching The Book of Mormon to a class of seventy adults, devoting 25-40 hours every week to learning about it and learning to love it. I can wholeheartedly say that teaching that class changed my life.  At the final class last April, I concluded with this:

"To say I've grown to love The Book of Mormon is inadequate.  Since my call to teach this class [in July 2010], I have devoted my time to studying, pondering, learning, applying, living, and loving this book. . . . The Book of Mormon has strengthened my faith in Jesus Christ.  It has deepened my resolve to live His commandments.  It has altered and transformed my prayers.  It has sharpened my perspective. . . . I see that I am forever changed.  I see with new eyes."

Which edition of the Bible do you use and why? Do you consider other writings to be sacred?

If you have any questions about this post, email me or leave a comment.

Fourth post in a series of five:

Monday: Why I Believe

Tuesday: Missions and the Plan of Salvation

Yesterday: The Son of God, Birth and Conception of Jesus, Mormons and the Trinity

Tomorrow:  Eternal Families

The Son of God, Birth and Conception of Jesus, Mormons and the Trinity

What is the Mormon Church's take on the Trinity?

I may be one of the few members of my Church who has studied the Council of Nicaea (thanks to a degree in Medieval Art History from BYU--not very handy in my daily routine, but it was handy today when I could pull A.H.M. Jones' The Decline of the Ancient World off my shelf for reference). Although I am far from expert, my understanding is that most Christians believe in a oneness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost, but we believe that they are three separate entities, with the Father and the Son having bodies of flesh and bone, whereas the Holy Spirit is just that, a Spirit.  The Godhead, the term we use in place of "Trinity," is One in purpose--helping direct fallen man back to live in Heaven, with the Son and the Holy Spirit always doing the will of the Father.

image from here

What does the Mormon Church teach about the conception and birth of Jesus?

Who do Mormons say Jesus Christ is? THE Son of God or A son of God?

We believe that Jesus Christ is THE literal Son of God, "the firstbegotten into the world" (Hebrews 1:6).  Mary, Jesus' mother and a virgin, miraculously conceived a Child--the Messiah, the One Anointed to become our Savior.  How this happened no man knows, but I consider Christ's mother one of my personal heroes.  Imagine her struggles--coming from a small village, engaged to be married, and she's suddenly, inexplicably pregnant.  Think of the ridicule and the loneliness.  I can't imagine her suffering and her strength to endure.  We do not worship Mary as other churches do, but I am so thankful she was willing to fulfill what was asked of her.

One of our most beloved songs, one that many consider to be almost our Church's anthem and a lullaby I've sung to all my babies, is "I Am a Child of God."  Although we as Mormons believe that we are all children of a loving, personal Heavenly Father, we know that there is only One--Only Begotten Son in the Flesh.  Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, the literal Son of His Father, born into mortality to fulfill all righteousness.  Born to fulfill the will of His Father, completely and fully.  His is THE Son of THE eternal God, His Father and Father of us all.

Let me conclude this post with the words of another of my personal heroes--Jeffrey Holland, currently serving as an apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here are his words about our belief in Jesus Christ, THE Son of God:

I could never fully explain Jesus Christ and His role in my life and what I owe Him.  I hope this answers your questions.  Feel free to ask further questions or leave comments of your own today.

Third post in a series of five:

Monday: Why I Believe

Yesterday: Missions and the Plan of Salvation

Tomorrow:  The Bible and Other Sacred Texts

Friday:  Eternal Families

Missions and the Plan of Salvation

I chose Tuesday to post about missions so I could get Tucker's response to Jen's question:

I have so many questions to ask about missions and missionary work. Sort of like what are the reasons you go through them and if it's required for everyone to do missions?

Here is what Tucker said:

Missions are a sacred privilege and duty. No one is compelled to serve a mission, but all worthy young men have been strongly encouraged to do so, to the point where many feel it is obligatory.  . . . Initially, motives range from obligation by church leaders, to compulsion from parents, to . . . The reasons morph quickly to a love for the people, a love for the Lord, and a love for our mission. I guess in short, the reason we're here is love. We love these people and know what we have will help them.

 I've struggled trying to find the words to answer this question.  I never served a mission.  My dad and brother never served a mission.  Brad served a mission from 1986-88 in Tokyo, Japan, but that was before I knew him. Tucker's is the first mission I have experienced first-hand.  The best information you could read about the why, who, where, and what of missions is  here, on mormon.org. 

It's difficult to explain to people not of my faith what a mission means to a young man, to a family, to a mom.  As the mom, the minute that new baby boy is placed in your arms, you hope that one day, nineteen years from that very moment, that newborn son will no longer be yours and it will be time to entrust his care to God for two years.  We have no input on where they serve or what language they will speak, but we know that those two years will be fully dedicated to serving their Heavenly Father, serving their fellow man, and hoping to teach others about our Church.

Young men, ages 19-26 are strongly encouraged to dedicate two years of service on a mission.  Young women, ages 21-28 are also supported in their decisions to serve 18-month missions.  Why the difference in time served?  I don't really know.  Senior couples who no longer have children at home are also strongly encouraged to serve--any amount of time from 3 months to 2 years.  Couples (like Tucker's mission president and his wife, pictured above) are also asked to serve as presidents of each of the missions, serving for a period of three years.  Missions are largely paid for by the missionaries and their families.  Members who wish to serve missions but are unable to pay for them are supported by the Church with money from the General Missionary Fund, voluntary contributions from members for this purpose.

As a mother, my greatest desires for my missionary son (and the three following behind him) are these:

• I know that the best way for teenage boys to grow into men is to leave the sometimes overprotective care of their mothers to serve God for two years.  During this time, they learn independence, people skills, and life skills like budgeting and living with others.  What better way than to be completely away from everything you know?
• I want Tucker to stand on his own beliefs, not just the things he has learned while growing up in our home.  I want him to know in his own heart and mind what HE believes.
• I see blessings in my family as he is away serving the Lord.  My children are less selfish in their prayers, always remembering Tucker and hoping he's safe and happy.  I am more aware of how hard it is for these young people, and I see what a great sacrifice it is, not only of their time, but other things as well, like time away from friends, learning a different language and culture, living with people you've never met before.
• Most of all, I want my boys to learn to love Jesus Christ and God above everything else.  What better way is there than taking two solid years focused solely on that?

While on missions, missionaries spend time finding people who have sent in requests to receive a Book of Mormon or talk with missionaries.  Missionaries talk to people wherever they go, looking for opportunities to serve and work and teach. Tucker helped people board their homes for Hurricane Irene, then spent an entire day helping people clean up from the aftermath.  They seek out lost members of the Church, encouraging them to return to Church.

One thing many people point out about members of my Church is that in general, we are a happy people.  Happy not because our lives are so easy and trouble-free, I can tell you.  Mormons in general are happy people because of our belief in God's plan of salvation (also called "the plan of happiness"), one of the primary ideas that missionaries share with the people they meet.

For an in-depth explanation of the plan of happiness, you can go to this link on mormon.org.

My own explanation is this:

I believe that before we were born here on earth, we lived in Heaven, with our Father, God.  He had a plan for us to return to live with Him one day, and that plan included getting a body and coming to earth for a mortal experience, where we would learn to love others, choose right from wrong, experience pain, sorrow, happiness, families, sin and the joy that comes through repentance.  I love that it was a PLAN.  It wasn't just something that happened or was thrown together without thinking about it.  God had a plan, and at the core of that plan is man's happiness.  In order for man to appreciate joy, there had to be sorrow.  To appreciate health, there had to be sickness.  To compensate for sin, there had to be the miracle of forgiveness and repentance--all part of a master plan.

The crucial piece of this Plan is Jesus Christ.  Jesus agreed to come to earth, be born into mortalilty with immortal power, suffer and die for man, which He did.

Our job here on earth is to make our way the best we can through this mortal experience, using the tools God has given us to find our way back--the scriptures, covenants, prophets, families, repentance, and the Atonement of Christ, among other things.  Life is hard and we all stumble.  Luckily, Christ led a perfect sinless life that we can look to for comfort, guidance, and most importantly, forgiveness.

When our life here on earth is complete, we will return to that God who gave us life, approach Him and His Son at the judgment seat, and account for our days on earth.  If we are worthy, we will then spend eternity in God's presence, enjoying the blessings that are awarded to those who are His--immortality and eternal life.

This plan for our salvation, this plan for our eternal happiness (not necessarily earthly happiness), this plan of mercy and redemption--the knowledge of this plan is what makes Mormons a happy people, what gives us a perspective on this life.  There is more to our existence than just earth, there is more to our existence than just suffering and hard things and trial. Bad things happen.  So do good things.

There is a plan.

The knowledge of that plan makes me happy, and that's why missionaries serve.  They have so much joy that they want others to understand why.

I hope this answers your questions a little.  I would love to hear your own beliefs about the plan of salvation and the purpose of life here on earth.  Leave your explanation or ask any further questions in the comments.

Second post in a series of five:

Yesterday: Why I Believe

Wednesday:  The Son of God, Birth and Conception, Mormons and the Trinity

Thursday:  The Bible and Other Sacred Texts

Friday:  Eternal Families

Why I Believe

I spent the last few days thinking about Karen's, Alycia's and Jen's questions contained in the comments section of this post.  Your questions made me reflect not only on what I believe, but why.  It's been an interesting journey.  Thank you, friends. I hope this series of posts can shed some light on your questions.

image from here

I was born into a Mormon family--many generations back on both sides.  It's all I've ever known really, so I don't have any perspective of Mormonism from outside my faith.  One statement has always puzzled me:  "Mormonism is a cult."  I don't know exactly what people mean when they say this.

I worship God the Father, and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I call myself Christian, and I feel this word accurately describes who I am and what I believe. I do not worship Joseph Smith, Thomas Monson, or any other man who has lived or will live on earth.  I respect and honor Joseph Smith as a man who was persecuted for his beliefs, a man who had a difficult task to perform on earth, like I respect Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, or any of the other Founding Fathers.  I believe Thomas Monson to be the man currently holding responsibility for me and the other members of my Church.  He is nothing more than a man, doing his best to be obedient, and chosen to lead a large group of people who believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I attend the temple whenever I can.  The practices in LDS temples are best described here. In essence, the temple is a sacred place on earth where members of the Church can go to ponder and think about holy things or personal problems, away from the distractions of daily life. The lessons taught in the temple aren't secret.  In the temples around the world, we are reminded of the importance of obedience, chastity and virtue, studying the scriptures, and devoting our time and energy and talents to working in God's kingdom here on earth.  We also covenant with God that we will follow these commandments.  These covenants--two-way promises between us and our Father in Heaven--are not secret, but they are so sacred to us that we keep them private, so that they remain sacred and personal. Marriages are also performed in the temples.  I'll talk more about that on Friday.


Let me describe myself a little bit:
No one forces me to do anything.  Ever.  As a child, I would call black "white" just to be obstinate.  I am very opinionated, often admittedly to my detriment, and I'll try to prove my point to my dying breath.  And that's just my good qualities.

True, I was raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I consider being "converted" to its teachings, doctrines, beliefs, and practices a lifelong journey.  My parents never forced me or my siblings to attend Church--it was always our choice, but we knew where they stood on the issue and where they would be for three hours every Sunday.

When it was time for me to get married, no one forced me to marry in the temple or take my children to Church or pay tithing or read my scriptures or pray or volunteer to work in my ward (a term for a Mormon congregational division).  I do these things because I've tested their promises.  I know that when I take my family to Church, we are happier and are one in purpose.  I know that when we pay our tithing, there is always enough money to meet our expenses.  I know that the scriptures contain answers for me and the problems I face and questions I have.  Why? Because time and again I have found what I desperately sought in their pages.

When I serve others in my ward--whether I'm teaching a class or cleaning the meeting house or watching the little kids in the nursery--I am happy, and I know that no matter how small my efforts may be, God is pleased with my offering.  It isn't a contest of who can be the most important or pay the most tithing or work the hardest.  The underlying beauty of the Church that I belong to is this (as summarized by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, one of our Church's leaders): "God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good." (For the text of his entire message, click here.)

I spend my days teaching my family, working, studying and thinking, praying and playing--and trying to "do good."  And every day I reconvert myself to the teachings of Jesus Christ.  It's an ongoing, lifelong process.

Why do I believe?  Not because my parents believe it or because a man in a dark suit in Salt Lake City, Utah, requires it.  I believe because I've tested it, and I know it's where I belong.
 

Today:  My personal conversion

Tuesday: Missions and the Plan of Salvation

Wednesday:  The Son of God, Birth and Conception, Mormons and the Trinity

Thursday:  The Bible and Other Sacred Texts

Friday:  Eternal Families