Thank You, God!

by Lynette Robinson

Fall Leaves by Alicia Blickfeldt

This year has gone so very quickly and it's difficult for me to believe that fall is securely upon us.  The daily temps this week hasn't risen above 48 degrees and the gardens are beginning to look fallish.  Speaking of gardens, ours was somewhat of a disappointment and it's odd but some people report that theirs is a lot like mine and others are having an abundance of produce.  Fortunately, I've been the recipient of many bags of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, greens and such.  Our green beans did grow and the kale is small but looks to be happy but not much else.

I had abandoned the idea of adding much to my food storage this year until I was mentioning to Jenifer, my niece, that I would like to find some red beets to put up. Most people I talk to make pickled red beets but we just love red beets as a vegetable, shredded and cooked in a little butter in a fry pan beside a piece of meat and a potato.  Not to mention that red beets are so very highly beneficial to our liver and provide incredible nutrition.

Jenifer said that they had some in their garden that I was welcome to and since I had hemmed a couple of skirts for her and refused payment, she was looking for a way to pay me back.

She asked me every couple of days when we were going to come and get them because she was anxious to square with me.

David, Singer and I trekked up the two blocks to Shane and Jenifer's house and was astounded at their beautiful garden.  Now, I really think that Shane was the chief gardener in heaven because of his love for caring for the out of doors but this garden was insanely beautiful.  The rainbow chard looked to be nearly a yard tall, the carrots looked like little orange footballs and everything was green and beautiful.  We were gifted several veggie treats.

The red beets were HUGE and I didn't need very many to fill a couple dozen pints of beautiful red yumminess for the winter.

Four years ago, at the end of our first year as camp host Service Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we found some choke cherries.  I knew that my grandma put up choke cherries and several people that do now but I had never done any.  We picked quite a few and I juiced them out and made jam.  During the last three years since we really haven't seen that many but this year a couple of trees at camp were loaded so we used the bucket on the tractor to get David up to pick them.

A week later Shane told us that there were some really nice ones on the edge of their hay field so we went and got them too.  I noticed another kind of bush loaded with bluish purple berries and posted a pic on facebook asking what they were and I got every answer from good to poison plants.  I finally found out that they are elderberries so we went back and got them.  By that time I had found a few more bushes and we had a nice batch of juice and jam.

During one of my morning walks I found a grove of trees loaded with beautiful blue plums.  We picked a couple of pans of plums and I discovered that the juice is just as delicious as choke cherry or elderberry.  In fact, mixing them produces an even better result.

Next came the apples and I juiced them and am still have 2 five gallon buckets to do as well as the ones still on my tree that will be dried into crispy apple treats.  When I mix the apple juice with the purple juices I get a sweet full juice that needs no sugar.

I love to go to my fruit room and lovingly admire the fruit of my labors and the generosity of God for the peace and comfort of knowing that I did this with my own hands.

Thrive Life Strawberries and Apple Syrup

This morning I made waffles and had some crumbs of Thrive Life freeze dried strawberries in the bottom of a can as well as some fresh apple juice in the frig.  I made some very delicious syrup and the left overs will gel into a beautiful jelly as it cools.

Apple Strawberry Syrup  #ThriveLife  
Thrive Daily

2 C. Apple Juice (or any juice)
1/4 C fresh or Thrive Life FD Strawberries
2 C. Organic Sugar  (or substitute white sugar)
2 TBS Regular Pectin  This is what I use
2 TBS Lemon Juice

Bring to a boil and let simmer in a sauce pan while you make your pancakes or waffles.  It will be the perfect consistency for syrup.  Store the left overs in the frig and you will have a lovely jelly for toast or sandwiches.  Reheat to use as syrup.

Wheat Bouquet

Singer and I go for a walk a few times a week.  I would like to go more and he certainly would like to go more often but life is busy even when you work at home so it is what it is.

Sometimes we walk the perimeter of a field that was planted with wheat this spring.  Over the summer have watched the drilled furrows turn into little green grass like shoots.  We have seen those shoots stand tall and develop beautiful heads of wheat.

After harvest I picked some of the stalks of wheat as well as some other dried plants for an arrangement on my dining room table.  Each time I look at it I am reminded of my pioneer ancestors who walked across the plains and immediately planted crops, including wheat, even before they began building homes.  I am reminded of pulling weeds in my grandpa's wheat field to help raise the price of his harvest as clean grain is more valuable.  I am reminded of how each loaf of bread started at the grinder to crush and powder wheat kernels into flour.  We really don't know how good we have it now.

David was reading from the newspaper earlier this week and said that this has been the driest summer on record since the beginning of precipitation record keeping and yet Mother Earth has seen fit to produce and gift us so very much.  Food directly from the earth is so much more nutritious and pure than what passes through the hands of conspiring men and laboratories.  We are so blessed!

I guess what I really want to say is Thank You, God! for the abundance you have given me.  I have been so blessed to come from a heritage that has taught me how to recognize food in it's raw state and how to make it into eatible and nutritious meals.

If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear

I grew up in a small southern Idaho town.  I thought everyone else had the same childhood I had.  We spent our summers riding horses, swimming in the lake, playing with our friends and every fall we went to grandma's and picked fruit, brought it home and worked to bottle 6 bushels of apricots, 6 bushels of peaches, 6 bushels of pears and as many other fruits as we could lay our hands on.  We worked in the garden alongside our dad and he taught us to love the earth as it yielded a bounty of vegetables that ended up in our basement also. One of my favorite after school treats was a fresh opened bottle of mom's dill pickles.

My Mother Would Spend Hours Admiring

We had a fire pit in the back yard where neighbors and friends would gather to feast on dad's famous dutch oven home grown chicken, rabbit and dutch oven potatoes.  My memories are sweet.

In the fall and early winter I remember my mom spending hours in her fruit room admiring the rows and rows
of beautiful bottles filled with the fruit of our labors.

Life was simple.  We had all we needed and we never went without. I so appreciate my upbringing and the lessons learned at the feet of my parents and grandparents.

September is National Preparedness month and it seems a little interesting to me that I've been inspired every September to take stock of my home store and supplies for years.

It is amazing to me how much produce we are able to glean from the land for free.  You see, my garden is usually bountiful and beautiful, but for some reason it refused to grow to it's full potential this summer.  I'm not sure why that is.  We had an issue with irrigation water early on and maybe it didn't get sufficient moisture.  Our green beans were good and I've put up lots of them.  My tomato plants aren't much bigger than they were when we planted them and our root vegetables didn't germinate at all.  Even with the shortage of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and the like, I have still been able to maintain a full range of food storage.  I usually try to keep two years worth of life sustaining variety.  It might get a little boring but I believe we would make it.

My parents didn't maintain a store of equipment as I remember but now that I think about it, we had camping equipment and tools, animals for work and for food, and I really think we were as prepared back then as we could be.

Ever since I can remember we have been counseled to have a reserve.  Brigham Young told the saints to have 7 years of grain in reserve. (ref)  It was two years as I recall as a youngster.  The Church now suggests that we have one year of long term provisions, three months of what we regularly eat and a 72 hour bug out bag for each member of our family. We are told that the Lord does not change.  Is it possible that He has made adjustments because we haven't?    (ref)

My husband and I serve as missionaries in a Young Womens' Church Camp where we see members come regularly to practice their skills "off grid".  It is heart warming to see a family around a cozy fire, cooking a meal, connecting in a way that our digital society often blocks.

Over the last several years we have been counseled to be prepared in many areas including Financial Fitness, Spiritual Preparedness and Physical Abilities.  We have been asked to go to the Lord and see what He would have us do to prepare in personal ways.  Ask Him to show us "What Lack I Yet?"

Source

The Lord has counseled us through His messengers that turbulent times are coming. (ref)  We are in them now and are to expect difficulty and testimony testing situations.  Where do we stand in the preparation meter?  Can we feed ourselves?  Could we feed our children?  What about the traveller/begger that the Lord sends to our door?  Do we have sufficient to share?  Are we prepared to hear His voice in times of trouble?  Do we know how He talks to us?

A recent focus has been on keeping the Sabbath Day holy.(ref)  It is interesting to me how the common description of the Sabbath has migrated from "The Sabbath, to Sunday to the Weekend."  Just another day to play or work.  The commandment to keep it holy was given to Moses on behalf of the Israelites who were so adolescent in knowing and keeping the commandments that He gave them The Ten Commandments and The Law of Moses, a kinder law with rules about everything including how many steps one could take on the Sabbath.  Yes, keeping the Sabbath Day Holy is one of the original Ten.  The First Ten.  Probably the Most Important Ten!

Why is it then, that we in our advanced state are unwilling or unable to see that the Lord has given us this precious day, free from guilt about not working, a day when we can study of and worship Him?  Is it really such a great sacrifice to offer up a tithe of our time to the things of the Lord?

A scout group was in our camp a few weeks ago and one of the leaders told me that they live in a very affluent area where boats, RVs, fancy cars and all sorts of worldly trophies are proudly displayed in driveways and yards.  This man said that he is often questioned and ridiculed because he has chosen to put his financial resources into his family and preparedness instead of the things that bring peace and that moth and time doth corrupt.  He expressed concern that if there were a disaster, or time when emergency preparations would be needed, he would be called upon to take care of those who had danced in the sunshine and neglected to build a shelter against the coming rain.  That rain that we were warned about.

The Lord Warned Noah

I hear quite often that some who fail to act, believe they will find rescue with their neighbors who are preparing.

The last few days my mind has gone to the story of Noah and how he warned the people to repent.  They would not, and as he and his family boarded the ark, the angels sealed it up, the rains came and the people tried every measure imaginable to gain entrance, safety and life. I can't even imagine how difficult it was for Noah and his family to listen to their cries as they pounded and hammered.  How gut wrenching was it to know that loved ones who wouldn't listen would be destroyed and there was nothing Noah could do?

The scriptures are written for us, not for the people they are about.  When Christ taught of the 10 virgins, the 5 who procrastinated and were found without oil were prevented from obtaining it from the 5 prepared virgins.  Yes, I will share as the Lord directs.  I have no idea who that will be and I hope I am not called to stand by, helpless, as those who have heard but not acted face the consequences of inaction.

Take time to take stock of your situation and act according to the counsel of the brethren, the Prophet and the Lord as we work together to be obedient and prepared.

additional resources:
https://www.lds.org/topics/emergency-preparedness?lang=eng
https://providentliving.lds.org/emergency-preparedness-and-response/stake-ward-emergency-planning-guide?lang=eng

They Seek for Truth. Or Do They?

How Do We Search for Truth?

Searching For Truth

by Lynette Robinson


I was reading an LDS  thread on Facebook the other day about what the Prophet has said about R rated movies. He states  "This is one thing that annoys me with many church members. Essentially, we have always been taught to use our own judgements, but President Benson is the only prophet to actually say "no R rated" and he was putting emphasis on porn - type movies." link The writer's concern is that people say the prophet told us not to watch R rated movies.  He says when he asks people why they don't watch R-rated movies they always say "because the Prophet says not to."  He then  asks "which prophet?"  and people weren't able to answer.  I was also a little confused about what the point of the article actually was.

I read the comments on the Facebook thread a day or two before I read the article and so many of them were dissecting the movie rating system, comparing it to how movies are rated or not rated in other countries.  Talking about content of profanity/sex/violence and discussing their frustration of not having more clear information from the Church and talking about whether we should judge others for watching R rated movies.

It seems with every post like this, the real message, the helpful message is trodden on by those who want to press another agenda or brush off our responsibility to ourselves and families to lift, live and testify the truth of God to one another.

Pray for Guidance and Truth

In the Doctrine and Covenants Section 58:26-29 The Lord states "For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.   Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned."

Interestingly enough, I had another conversation this week with a delightful new friend of mine.  She was saying that she was wondering how the Church will address the issue of same sex attraction now that same sex marriage is legal.  You see, we have always been taught that any sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage is a sin (and even if you are not LDS but believe in the Bible, it is there too) but now that same sex couples can marry, how will they address that?  Immediately the Proclamation on the Family came to my mind.  "WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God."  Does that cover it, or not?  I'm not here to say one way or another but I would encourage everyone to search, ponder and pray for the answer from the source of all truth.  The Proclamation on the Family has been signed by 15 Apostles of God!

President Hinkley stated “Prophets of God have repeatedly taught through the ages that practices of homosexual relations, fornication, and adultery are grievous sins. Sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage are forbidden by the Lord. We affirm those teachings.”^Reference

10 Reasons to be Morally Clean

 I recently read where Elizabeth Smart is speaking out against and condemning  the way that LDS teachers portray sexual sin, as she recounts a lesson where they pass an unwrapped stick of gum around the room for everyone to handle, someone actually chews the gum and then asks if anyone wants to have the gum. The teacher then links the chewed gum to a person who has sinned against the law of chastity.  I have never actually used that object lesson personally, I know others who have.  While I agree that it would certainly be hurtful to someone who has been raped or otherwise sexually traumatized against their will because being sinned against and sinning is two different things, she condemns the way morality is taught. I believe it certainly would hit home to someone who had violated that law.  Maybe teach the difference and with love and compassion instill in them a desire to use the Atonement of Christ and heal or repent.  They are two different scenarios. 

To start with, I don't know that the lesson of the gum came from The Church.  How does Elizabeth think we should be teaching our youth about the dangers of sexual and moral sin?  We are so quick to condemn a practice but slow to offer a better solution.

 In a gathering of youth in Denver, Prophet Gordon B Hinkley,  said "Be clean. I cannot emphasize that enough. Be clean. It is so very, very important, and you at your age are in such temptation all the time. It is thrown at you on television. It is thrown at you in books and magazines and videos. You do not have to rent them. Don’t do it. Just don’t do it. Don’t look at them. If somebody proposes that you sit around all night watching some of that sleazy stuff, you say, ‘It’s not for me.’ Stay away from it” (Denver, Colorado, youth meeting, 14 Apr. 1996).

Since this talk was delivered at a youth meeting, does that exempt adults from the counsel?  Aren't we all God's children?  Does he give laws to one and not another, reward obedience to some but not all?  Why would God say it was OK for adults to engage in activities that He forbids children to practice?  Personally, I think some people like to think that rules are just for other people.  

Follow Jesus

God's Laws are for all of us.  They keep us safe.  They help us connect to Him.  Obedience to God's laws open the channels for further light and knowledge that God sends those who turn their face towards Him.

Don't be fooled by those who want to dissect the counsel and say the Prophets haven't been clear.  We have reached the time when God expects more of us than to sit back and be spoon fed the law.  

I testify that God is a rewarder of those who truly and diligently seek Him.  He lives.  Jesus is the Savior of the world and atoned for me and you. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and opened the dispensation of the Church of Jesus Christ in these last days and the fullness of times.  He will reward those who have followed His law and will find obedient people useful for fulfilling His purpose on this earth.  I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!