Kayla was most excited about hearing and meeting Hank Smith and John Bytheway.
We even won for the best picture reprentation of the theme .
The theme for the weekend was to Believe and Live HIGHER!
We heard messages about Forgiveness.
To just "let it go"
Matt 11:28 " Come unto me all that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
WE have options in this life. WE can choose.
We also learned to "check our assumptions" That life is not always fair.
Emily Watts relayed her experience with riding a segway. She discovered that you have to "lean forward" in order to get it to move. WE too must lean forward in order to progress.
Several speakers talked about the "bigger picture" That we need to trust in the Lord who can see that "bigger picture"
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish.
What is our vision? Maybe we need to clean our glasses a bit so we can see a little better.
What is the "big picture"
Prior to our son coming out, we saw things much differently than we do now.We had to take a step back and reevaluate everything we thought we knew.
Another one of the speakers was Merilee Boyack . She started out great, but as she spoke of being "Warrior Women" ( which I think we are) her topic turned to Tattoos ( my daughter in law has lots of them) and yes, She is from California, Prop 8 and the whole LGBT rights issue. I found myself getting a little irritated. As she continued on and said we should "speak up for truth", I realized this is what she feels her truth is, but I have my own. I have gained some truths over the last few years.
As she talked about "DEFENDING THE FAMILY & PROTECTING CHILDREN" I could stand and say Yes, I believe that is important too, but not the way she sees it.
Having fostered 43 children over about an 8 1/2 year time period and worked within my community in the child welfare arena, I have seen lots of children and families in crisis. As the president of the Foster care association here I worked quite closely with many families several of whom were gay.
Just this week, another one of my lesbian couples took in an infant from an abusive situation.
Is their family not important?
Are they not protecting that child?
Many children are being loved and sheltered and protected from harmful situations caused by "traditional families" . Now I am not here to bash those families, we all make mistakes and struggle, but it just does not seem right to me that we have this "vision " that the "traditional" mom, dad, two kids and a dog, family is the only one that works. Even better if they are Mormon.right??
Seriously??
There is a huge range of differences in families , cultural, educational, religious, and many others.
Just look at the families in your circle of influence. Some are very outdoorsy and hike , bike, spend hours at the gym. Some are very tidy. You are afraid to touch anything in their home. You know the ones. Some think a little dirt never hurt anyone. It doesn't right?...
I know I left my shoes somewhere....
Anyway ....
What about the over achievers who seem to never sleep and have their kids in 15 activities, attend the temple every month, are always on time for everything, they volunteer in their community and so on and so forth. I think we get the picture . Every family is different. We parent different, we celebrate differently, we look different. I had a good friend who had twin boys and decided that was good for her. She always felt self conscious because aren't Mormon families supposed to have "lots' of children?
We are supposed to multiply and replenish the earth. There is no set number.
What about those who cannot bear children?
We need to be less worried about the "details " and just focus on the spirit of what Heavenly Father intended. Do we love others. Do we serve. Do we protect children and bring them up in love and righteousness? Are we good citizens and are we teaching our children these same values?
Here in Clark County alone we have an average over 300 children a month that come into care. I personally am grateful for all those families and sometimes even individuals who step up on behalf of these children to love them. To care for them. To teach them.To guide them.
I don't care what their family dynamics are as long as they can provide those things. That is what makes a family. That is the "big picture " right?
I think our Heavenly Father is pleased as well, that anyone is willing to step in and help another.
One of the scriptures Sis Boyack read was D&C 64:33-34
33 Wherefore, be not
34 Behold, the Lord a requireth the b heart and a c willing mind; and the willing and d obedient shall e eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.
When I read my scriptures, I try to think of
1. Why is this in here?
2. How does this apply to me?
As I reread this later, it struck me that at this time many of us are laying the foundation of work within the LGBT Mormon community. Sometimes we can feel quite weary, but the Lord is letting us know that our efforts are important. WE need to be willing and obedient to what he is asking us to do and we will be blessed. I think many of us have a much clearer vision of "the Big Picture"
In turn that foundation will bless many others.
The last thing I want to share is D&C 68:6
6 Wherefore, be of good
Our Savior loves us , and just as he went to the pool of Bethesda to help those who needed to be healed, he is there for us as well. We can be of good Cheer. We can hold on to our faith and knowledge that the savior lives and loves us.
Sometimes we just need to clean off our glasses so we can clearly see.
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