The Hope of the Resurrection

A post of a paper I wrote for a school - October 24, 2012

This may seem like a topic better suited for Easter, But the hope of the resurrection is a topic that permeates my life every day, not just something that I think about on Easter. It is a truth that I hold dear to my heart.... especially on this day - The year anniversary of my oldest sister, Rochelle, who passed away from Breast Cancer.  but honestly I'm not only thinking of Rochelle, this topic also makes me think of my Grandpa and Grandma S (my dad's parents), two dear friends who each lost a mother (one from breast Cancer, and the other from out of nowhere), a sweet girl in my ward who lost her husband, and my husband's uncle Mike. And anyone who has lost a loved one.

(Something I wrote for my class about family crisis and how they can become opportunities.) 

My oldest sister Rochelle was diagnosed with Breast cancer in October of 2007. She went through so many chemo rounds, two brain tumors, a hysterectomy, loss of hair many times, radiation and everything that goes. She passed away just over a year ago, October 24, 2011. My entire family (all six girls and my parents) were able to be there in my sisters room her last two weeks of life. Was it painful to watch such a vibrant feisty mother of three and beautiful wife waste away while she couldn’t hardly move and could hardly communicate? Absolutely. Was it one of the most spiritual and uniting experiences for my entire family? Absolutely. Why? Because of our faith in Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Because of the Word of God written in scripture that brings awareness of where she was going and what she would be feeling.

“Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. (Alma 40:11)”

 Our beliefs were no linger beliefs but knowing. We knew she would be whole and reunited with other family (namely my sweet grandfather). We had each other, all of us there to help support and lean on each other. There were tears and laughter, often together. When she finally left this world on the 24^th we did not stop ourselves from grieving but we also haven’t stopped knowing. Although it was such a huge loss for everyone, particularly my mother, Rochelle’s husband Ryan and her three young children, we will not deny how it brought us together as a family. 

The Hope of Resurrection. 

To truly understand the Resurrection we must search the scriptures and understand the Atonement as well. I have read these passages before and they are so wonderful, the absolute love that God has for his children! I have said before that I don't feel like much of a writer but I love videos and the impact they can have.

A Hopeless Dawn by Frank Bramley

 President Thomas S Monson admired this painting and his heart went out to the hopeless feelings the two women had in realizing that the mother’s son and the woman’s husband was lost at sea. When we lose a loved one it can be a hopeless and wrenching feeling. Feelings of mourning are natural and good and God does not tell us not to weep (think of the Savior weeping at the loss of Lazarus a dear friend). There have been many tears. Usually, they have been tears of missing my sister.

The Hope of the Resurrection is that we may see our loved ones again! All will be resurrected because Christ broke the bands of death. In the resurrection death has lost its sting. 

I so grateful for this truth. This is the happiest announcement in the history of life

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?

“He is not here, but is risen.” (Luke 24:5–6).

President Thomas S. Monson said

“The empty tomb that first Easter morning was the answer to Job’s question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again.”

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made live.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

Revelation chapter 21, verse 4: ‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’

General Conference Weekend

I LOVED Conference this year. It seems like the last couple of years I haven't gotten much out of it. Not so this year. I was strengthened in so many ways. Cody got really sick Saturday night and was up all night (which meant that I also didn't get much sleep)
When the kids woke up I got them breakfast and put in a movie so that I could get the rest I so desperately needed and so I could pay better attention to General Conference...Cody just needed to rest - he was still feeling so sick. The movie ended 7 minutes before conference started and I felt refreshed and was able to stay awake the whole time and glean much insight. Cody slept through all of Sunday General Conference and woke up during the closing song. Luckily he was feeling a whole lot better. We both think he got some kind of food poisoning. It reminded me of our very first General Conference after we were married. We went to the church to watch with his parents and I was feeling so sick and I had a pile of tissues next to me. This was the General Conference with Elder Wirthlin's last great talk - Come What May and Love It. The next day I was knocked out in bed while Cody just hung out in the apartment. At the time we did not have any cable or internet so he couldn't watch it! We were going to try and make it to my parents house but I was in serious pain didn't even feel like I could stay in sitting position long enough to get there! Awful. But Cody was such a good sport.

Anyways, on Saturday Cody set up an elaborate tent for us to watch General Conference (Like the people of King Benjamin who pitched the door of their tents to face King Benjamin and hear him speak). It started falling apart through Conference and by the end it was all down. But the kids still had fun. The kids were actually really good this conference. After last conference's experience I was a little worried. But they were good and we pulled out the fold out picutres of the prophet and spostles from the Ensign and had the kids try to find the picture of the person giving the talk. That actaully seemed to get them interested. I wanted to do a Conference Bingo but I was way too pooped through out the week to actually get that done. :( I hate having no energy. But I loved what Elder Hales said in the first talk of Conference (Such a perfect talk to start off Conference) He said that children can comprehend that spiritual communication of Conference, confirming that there is a place for children in General Conference. Loved it. Also, did anyone else adore the family choir? The Elderly mixed in with the children was absolutely wonderful to watch and listen to. I have never seen this kind of choir before (maybe I just wasn't paying attention before) but I LOVED it.

Yes, that is football on the TV. This is what was on BYU TV just before Conference. 

I am a woman who LOVES to make traditions. I made these yummy treats for us to munch on during conference. I made them Halloween style. Mummy Oreo Truffles. MMMMmmmm.

Maybe I will get around to writing posts about the talks I loved most and what I got from them. Here is a sneak peak of some of my favorites.

Elder Bednar
Sister Oscarson
Elder Anderson
Elder Oaks
President Utchdorf
President Monson

Just to name a few. :)

New Book "Covenant Motherhood"

I was just reading over as Women in the Scriptures about a new book out called Covenant Motherhood. It sounds like a really great book! Here is one quote from the book that has really made me want to read it.....
" I used to dream really big. My notebooks were more about traveling the globe and getting degrees and teaching and making a difference. I'm happy to report that over time the Lord has blessed me with chances to do many of those things, but not one of them matters as much to me as the people He gave me. God and my little family have turned me into a better me than the me I had imagined. And when all is said and done, if I were to find out that I wasn't allowed to keep most of the things that are important to me, my husband and my children are the things I would hold onto the tightest. The things I never knew I wanted are my greatest treasures". (pg. 57)

What Do LDS Women Get?

Sheri Dew (former General Relief Society President and President of Deseret Book)

This is a subject that I have been thinking a lot about. I realize that not all women in the church feel this way (that men and women are equal). It makes me sad...and I'll admit, at first, angry. I struggled with it and stewed over it. I didn't like feeling that way, but I did. It was a journey and took a while but I've come to understand that we are all children of God and he loves those struggling with this issue just as much as he loves me. His love is infinite. And I should strive to make mine more infinite. 

And this experience also helped me realize a great gift that I have been blessed with. I have been blessed with parents who never made me feel less as a person just because I am a female or that I couldn't do just as much as anyone else (And now realize with sadness that not all women were raised this way).
I have a great testimony of the power of the priesthood which I love immensely. I also have a very strong testimony in both personal revelation and our living prophet today President Monson. 

A couple of Saturday's ago our stake Relief Society had the great opportunity to have our General Relief Society President Linda K Burton come and speak to us. It was a wonderful experience, and one of the many things that I took from that meeting was the testimony that Sister Burton has of the General Authorities  and their love and admiration for the women of the church and how much they are aware of us and pray for us. I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

{Look Forward to it every six months!}