I was watching KBYU the other night, and a speaker said when we learn things, it is important to teach them to someone else, to teach that person, and to reenforce the learning for ourselves. I have learned a few things in the last week or so which I would like to pass on.
I was reading the First Pres. message this month by Pres. Eyring. I felt his words were true. He said, "Truth can prepare its own way. Simply hearing the words of doctrine can plant the seed of faith in the heart." I know that I need to have more confidence in the power of the word.
"The best time to teach is early, while children are still immune to the temptations of their mortal enemy and long before the words of truth may be harder still for them to hear in the noise of their personal struggles...The question must be, 'With so little time and so few opportunities, what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the attacks on their faith which are sure to come?'" I had never thought about it that way, about teaching young children. Anyway, if I had thought it before, I relearned it today. For all of you parents out there, can you imagine the impact on your children's lives if they hear their parents bear a testimony of some kind to them every day of their lives? I know that Jesus and Heavenly Father love us perfectly. Their greatest desire is our immortality and eternal life--with them. I know that is true. If you haven't read this article, I commend it to you.
I also learned a couple of things from the Doctrine and Covenants. This is from D & C 38: 4. It talks about us being taken into 'mine own bosom'. "To be 'in the bosom' of someone is an ancient Hebrew idiom derived from the fact that anciently a man's clothing consisted of large flowing robes wrapped around the person and tied with a sash, forming a spacious respository (sound familiar?) above the waist in which things, including children, were often carried. Something so carried was kept close to the chest or bosom, so the phrase 'to be in the bosom of another' implied a very close and favored relationship." Doctrine & Covenants Student Manual pg. 76.
One final thing I learned. D & C 36:8 "Gird up your loins" "In Biblical language, to 'gird up your loins' is to prepare for a journey or for work. The Hebrews wore girdles (sashes) when traveling, and when at work. On such occasions they gird their clothes about them (by tucking them under the sash) to ensure free movement of their limbs. The servants of the Lord must be prepared to do His work, and to go when He calls." Smith and Sjodahl, Commentary, P. 201. Another temple insight for me. I hope you will also pass along those 'aha' moments you have. Love, Mom/Debby
HISTORY
A Little History:
Our story begins in Pocatello, Idaho, circa 1972, when the lovely Debby Christensen agreed to a first, though fateful date with admirer, David Croshaw. Long story-short, he bade her follow him, and they went arm-in-arm to the Logan, Utah temple for establishment of an eternal family unit, Generation 1, on May 23 1973.
From their first blissful summer in Salt Lake City, educational pursuits took them to Provo/Orem, Utah, birthplace of Leslie and Rebecca, and to San Francisco/Oakland California, birthplace of Colin and Matt. Then, for establishment of livelihood, expansion of the tribe with Abby and Dana, and for raising/unifying of Generation 2, it was back to the roots in Pocatello for a rewarding sojourn.
In time, driven by a raging, but commonly shared sense of adventure and independence, one-by-one, Generation 2 escaped the homeland to distant regions of the country and the world, each ultimately developing their own tribal expansions by pairing with worthy mates and initiating Generation 3.
Now sensing fulfillment of their purpose in Pocatello, Generation 1 has also left those roots and transplanted to Cascade Idaho, from which base, they anticipate more abundant contact with The Posterity, Generations 2 and 3, in the future. That contact however, awaits fulfillment of a call to LDS missionary service in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wherein they hope to help the state of the world by sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
So now, including Generation 0 (Grandma and Grandpa Christensen) home base includes Yuma, Arizona, Pocatello, Idaho, Cascade, Idaho, Vancouver, BC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spokane, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Los Angeles, California, back to Boise, Idaho, and on and on (Generation 3+) to infinity.
Our Mission Statement:
This is the blog of our eternal family unit. Initiated years ago, it served well as a journal, but even more so, as an archive of our personal interaction. It was a gathering place, a confabulation instrument, a unifying force for four generations of widely dispersed and progressively prolific posterity, and their valued associates. Though it served these purposes well for many years, it eventually took a back seat to new-kids-on-the-block, Facebook, and Instagram, and was sadly forgotten.
We now move to resurrect this blog with an added functional purpose of archiving the missionary experiences of Generation 1, of their movements and activities as they participate with The Gathering of Israel in the land northward. In so doing, we hope that via their own comments and posts, this blog will again serve to gather and unify the posterity and their friends.
As in the past, that the young and vibrant may know the old and tired, that enduring bonds may be fostered and maintained, that experience and encouragement may be openly shared, that posterity may embrace truth, and that hearts may be knit together, we must resist detachment despite our geographic divergence. We shall do so here.
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7 comments:
Thank you so much for those words!! I teach Mia's primary class which is often a challenge for me and her. I have often said to myself or Colin that I would really like to be released from primary. Colin is gone some Sundays and so is the team teacher I have, she is a resident also. It can be difficult just get to church on time. (Hang on, I have a relative point.) Then after I wrestle with kids during sacrament, take kids to the bathroom, nurse a baby, get Jack to nursery, stop in the library if needed and then get to primary I am pretty much worn out!! However, I get to sit in primary, learn new songs, wrestle Cole, shush Mia for the 10th time I hardly have the energy to teach a lesson, have the spirit, take Jack to the potty again... well you are getting the point. This last Sunday our lesson was on the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was a great lesson but Mia kept pulling her dress up, chewing on it, the boys could see her underwear, and not listening, then they brought Jack to me because he was hurt. I got to the end of the lesson and wondered how bored the kids were, as you are with this comment I am sure, I bore my testimony of the Holy Ghost to those little CTR 6 children of God and my heart was full. After reading what you wrote I now know that Mia needs to hear me bear my testimony, not just on Sunday, but like you said, everyday. Sorry this post is a bit crazy, I hope you get the point. I needed to hear that and I am going to go read that article.
That was a good lesson, Lori. I am with you on the primary thing. I had 11/12 class as a single in the family ward and I had about 5 obnoxious boys + Valerie who does not like to listen to mom. That was fun. One time I got so frustrated that I said to her, "fine, you teach the lesson. I am dying to hear what you have to say about Sampson." And I just sat there for a good 5 minutes. The 5 quietest minutes of that calling. Hearing "we're sorry" still almost makes me cry. I felt so sorry for making them sad. I hugged them all at the end.
I teach for a living, yet I attest the best thing I teach is to love, support, and respect others and I hope I do this by example. I have been hurt time and again from the unkindness of others, yet thanks to a gift from our Heavenly Father, I do not feel angst (often) because of those treatments. Instead, I feel sad for someone who would be intentionally unkind to another person. I have come to realize that that sort of thing says more about the abuser than the abused. Some are simply easier targets than others. It has made me very aware of those around me. Particularly those who are hurting. My teaching is about love. I am blessed in that I get to do it professionally and hope that I give an example of how to treat others, while I am at the same time, giving biological instruction. That is the most-important thing- to love, lift up, and make time for others. Thinking about doing something nice is worthless. Loving is an action that must be acted upon and not just thought about. I have learned to love from so many in my life who were completely not bound to me by blood, but by the goodness of their essence. I am alive, well, and mostly optimistic because of those people. It is something I am very aware of and something I strive every day to pay forward.
When my sweet friend was leaving the lab for a post-doc in London, I started sobbing. Ana was such a good friend to me...my sweet friend hugged me and said "you are always trying to do such nice things for everyone around you." I am glad that she noticed. She now knows that I do this because of the Gospel and because it is what has given me strength. I want to strengthen others. Then she turned to my new boyfriend, Matt, and asked him to "take care of her." It gives me tears now thinking of that moment. I miss her. I feel so lost in my life right now. Really and truly, I feel lost in an endless sea most of the time, but somehow, reliving that moment gives me a sense that I am heading in the right direction. I suppose I will keep swimming.
Also, take a look at the Young Women's broadcast on the lds.org site. It is FANTASTIC! President Monson says "sex" on the stand. He is so frank with the young women about the issues of this day, I love him.
Wow, I really need to try better to teach my kids gospel related principles every day. We've started listening to the primary CD we got at the beginning of the year every day, the kids love it. We've finally started having FHE and this would just be another step in the right direction. And Lori, I'm so impressed! We were in the nursery when I had Lilia and I asked to be released...kind of makes me feel bad. I didn't want her around all the little hands and germs that might have got to her, but we always get callings for a reason.
Crystal, I just did my last visit teaching this morning and she told us about the YW broadcast, I need to record it. I've noticed how you're always so thoughtful. I really need to make the effort to try to remember little things more often...
Thanks, Debby, for your insights. I am using President Eyring's article in YW leadership meeting this month, it impressed me greatly. Thanks, too, for the background info on the clothing. It does add a dimension of understanding to the temple, our covenants, and the scriptures.
I enjoy checking out your blog occasionally and hearing from your family. Love you all, Karla
ok, so i am rereading this. the word is 'gird', not 'girt'. makes more sense, probably comes from the same root word as girdle?
You know, I kept thinking... " I thought it was gird..." but I definitely did not go fact-checking.
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