The Songs They Could Not Sing

“And Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing.” 

                                 “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today,” Hymns, no. 227.

This talk, The Songs They Could Not Sing, by Quentin L. Cook, is so good and yet so hard to listen to because of the subject matter. No one wants to think about someone dying early on in life before they have reached their full potential. It just seems unfair. But Peter had it right when he said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." - Acts 10:34 That is a tough pill to swallow.

But there is something that I tell myself that really helps me. When bad things happen I ask, "Why not me?" I mean anything can happen to anyone. But then when good things happen I ask, "Why me?" I am no better than anyone else. God didn't have to grant that blessing. It is His grace that is shining on me. These two phrases have humbled me so much. Of course I hope that tragedy never hits close to home, but life is just life. And it's hard. I couldn't bear it if I lost one of my kids because I love them and want to see them grow up. That would be the hardest for me. So what he says would definitely be true for me.

"A unique challenge for those who have lost loved ones is to avoid dwelling on the lost opportunities in this life. Often those who die early have demonstrated significant capabilities, interests, and talents. With our limited understanding, we lament the things that will not be accomplished and the songs that will not be sung. This has been described as dying with your music still inside you. Music in this case is a metaphor for unfulfilled potential of any kind. Sometimes people have made significant preparation but do not have the opportunity to perform in mortality.


Yet scriptures like this give me so much comfort:
 “Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not …, for God shall be with you forever and ever.” Doc & Cov 122:9

But of course now I feel like I need to start singing! If you know me then you know that I don't like singing. I actually just made a vow the other day, after feeling chastised of the Lord, to always sing in church despite not really liking to do so. I mean I love the hymns but I just can't concentrate on the words and sing at the same time. And now hearing this talk I will never not sing ever again. I will sing for all those who don't get to sing anymore in this life. And I will live my life to the fullest. I just want to go hug all my kids and never get upset with them ever again!

God Bless and go sing your heart out!

Making Choices

"Our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, has taught: “I can’t stress too strongly that decisions determine destiny. You can’t make eternal decisions without eternal consequences.”

We were talking the other day about this very topic, how this life was given to us to make choices.

"In reality we have only two eternal choices, each with eternal consequences: choose to follow the Savior of the world and thus choose eternal life with our Heavenly Father or choose to follow the world and thus choose to separate ourselves from Heavenly Father eternally."

Trying to relate this message to the kids we likened it to Star Wars where Aniken makes choices that lead him to the dark side, while Luke choses to follow the good side.

"My dear brothers and sisters, your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice. It is never too late to begin to choose eternal life!"

The choices we make every day are so important. While every choice won't determine the outcome of our life, they each choice does take us down a path and can prove to be a great advancement or detour.

To read the whole talk click here.
Choose Eternal Life by Randall K. Bennett

Things As They Really Are

"To be “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15) will be a real and not a virtual experience." Elder Bednar

If you have boys, you might know, like I do, how much they love video games. I struggle all the time with how much I should let them play, what types of games and so forth. Not wanting to make it a fight, I try to get them to think and make the choices for themselves... with a little guidance for sure;)

Here is a great video to share with them about how they spend their time and what is really important. My boys and I had a good discussion on this subject after watching the video.

Recipe for Happiness

I am currently writing a book for Mother's about following God's plan for happiness. Finding the balance in doing with out time what we know is right and still having the time that we need for ourselves. It's a tricky balance and one that if we don't get right, can make us really unhappy, I suppose.

And in my research on what happiness is I came across this quote:

“Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.”
― Joseph Smith Jr.

God wants us to be happy. He truly does!

"For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
— Moses 1:39