Sunday, July 20, 2025
A Piece of Hope.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Moments.
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Establish a house of grace.
"The place to cure most of the ills of society is in the homes of the people. Building our homes as fortresses of righteousness for protection from the world takes constant labor and diligence."
Just like building our testimonies on the rock that is our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ, we need to remember to ensure the safety of our homes by building upon the correct principles of the Gospel, and ensuring that not only ourselves but our children know that, just like the way the temples are the house of God, our homes can be a place where God can reside, as long as we remember the way to build up our spiritual strength.
"The Lord’s standards for building a temple apply also to building spiritual strength in our homes: “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119). Do we heed this counsel from the Lord? Do we do what He asks? We would do well to build our homes according to this plan or they are destined to fail."
I really love this scripture--I have for years since my family memorized it together as part of a family home evening one year. I hope that I can learn how to apply it better in my life this summer as I try to help create and establish our home.
Sunday, May 4, 2025
"My [child], peace be unto thy soul."
1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
John 1427 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Doctrine and Covenants 1217 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
Helaman 5
47 Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Holy Week - Easter Sunday
The Cross |
The Sign on Jesus' Cross |
Plaque for the Sign on the Cross |
I hope you had a beautiful Easter with your family and loved ones. I hope that taking the time to remember the last week of Jesus' mortal ministry with me has been as uplifting for you as it has been for me.
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Holy Week - Saturday
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Friday, April 18, 2025
Holy Week - Good Friday
Luke 23: 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Holy Week - Thursday
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Holy Week - Wednesday
35 Jesus wept.36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
When Jesus arrives in Bethany, His love for Lazarus, Mary, and Martha is so great, He raises Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus’ love for us is so great, He suffered and died for us so that we can all live again, as He did when He rose on the third day.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Holy Week - Tuesday
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
There are lots of ways to serve those around us, but the most important way is to make sure they know they’re loved and appreciated. As we serve others, we are serving and drawing closer to Him. I love that this leads back to loving God and our neighbors, as we’ve been learning this week.
Mattie
Monday, April 14, 2025
Holy Week - Monday
Jesus shows His love for God by cleansing the temple and creating a holy space for His followers to be able to worship Heavenly Father. He shows His love for His neighbors by healing the sick and blind. I love how Jesus gives us lots of examples of ways to show our love for God and our neighbor throughout His entire ministry.
While we usually think about showing our love for God in spiritual ways, such as studying our scriptures and serving in the temple, there are other ways we can show our love for God. Just like Jesus, we can create a clean physical space in our homes to give us a holy, clean place where we can worship God. Even just having a clean and holy space in our homes brings the Spirit into our home, making it easier to love and serve our family (and neighbors).
Xoxo
Mattie
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Holy Week - Palm Sunday
Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, Jesus Christ’s last week of ministry on Earth.
Ricky and I were able to discuss Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem today.
His followers in the city laid down cloaks and palm fronds for Him to walk across as He rode the donkey into town, crying shouts of “Hosanna!”, which means, “please save us”.
Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was. In Matthew 22:37-40, it states:
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
The first message Jesus gives in His last week is to love God and our neighbor. I think that is the most poetic and important message He could give at the start of the last week of His life, in which He embodies the spirit of these two commandments by following His Father’s plan in order to save us.
I’m thankful for Jesus’s example throughout His entire ministry, but especially in His last week. I love the tradition of going through the events of His last week and am so grateful for the opportunity to study it every year.
Mattie