A reach for poetic beauty.

Pain in my left leg
And in other places
Defines where I go
What I do
How I spend time.

For the beauty of the earth:
Can I bathe the aches of my body in nature?
Can I turn my attention to other directions?
Can I tune out the aches and discomfort
That wash me in mud and obscure my view of truth and loveliness?
 
 

Too Much Free Time?

 As a woman who might have too much time on her hands, (I live alone in a "village" filled with other folks in a similar situation), I have often wondered if I'm using the time I do have in a way that is productive, charitable, educational, or enriching.

Myself and my son, Richard at the beach a few years ago.

 I try to have some balance between sitting activities and physical activity, but usually end up spending a lot of time sitting in my lounger chair.  I strive to reach out weekly to others in my complex, to family members, either by phone, a personal visit, sending a card, or utilizing the internet.  

For the first time in many years, I can read as much as I want to.  I have experienced another pleasure in the last 3 or 4 years, also!  I subscribe to two "movie" channels and I start watching a series that is meant to be viewed over a period of days; only, I binge, instead and will occasionally watch all the episodes in a singe evening!

The television is on from morning till night unless I am taking a nap, going out of my apartment, or reading.  It is background noise!  Creates a fantasy that I'm not living alone.  

I need to simplify, but throwing out or giving away belongings is a real chore!  Love for you, my family or friends, to email me with suggestions or ideas.  If you are in my area at all, please stop by for a quick visit!
 

Who is Mulek and Why Do I Care?

Mulek, a Book of Mormon leader, was the son of Zedekiah and escaped the sacking of Jerusalem in about 587 B.C.  He travelled with others to a place in the Western Hemisphere which became known as the land of Mulek (Helaman 6:10).  Later on this region was named for Zarahemla, who was a descendant of Mulek (Mosiah 25:2).  In the past, Bible students have assumed that Nebuchadnezzar executed all of Zedekiah's sons, an observation unsupported by ancient evidence and refuted by the Book of Mormon account of Mulek's survival.

In Mulek's descendants, the Nephites discovered an additional witness concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.  Remember, this was why Lehi was directed by the Lord to get out of that area while the getting-out was good!  The Mulekites were thrilled to discover or would it be discovered?---Anyway, they were glad to find the Nephites or be found by them...because the Nephites had records.  Their own language and traditions had been distorted in the absence of historical documents.  They lived thenceforth among the Nephites and enjoyed a separate-but-equal status and ultimately outnumbered the descendants of Nephi! 

For God, there are no "lost" peoples.  Name variations, "lost tribes", etc.  are known to a loving Heavenly Father.  For additional information, refer to the Scriptures of the Church, selections from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, published in 1992.  You can also do a search at the Church website, churchofjesuschrist.org.

How would your life be different without the Bible?  Without the Book of Mormon?  Without historical documents?  

I highly recommend reading the new-er publication on the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It can be found both at the church website and is also a downloadable "app" in the Gospel Library.   I love having the capability of having these texts on my phone.  If I am early for an appointment or if the doctor is running behind, I will often use that "dead time" for reading my scriptures and/or for reading "Saints".  

 

Section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants and Personal Revelation

This revelation was given in Harmony, Pennsylvania, in July 1830, three months after the organization of the Church.  It was first printed in the Book of Commandments in 1833 as Chapter 26.  The revelation is addressed to Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  In the earlierst version, Emma Smith is addressed as "my daughter in Zion".  Joseph Smith later expanded this verse to add, "All those who receive my Gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom."

Can you imagine having a revelation directed to you?  Yesterday, in Sunday School, we talked about revelation, yes, even personal revelation!  As children of our Heavenly Father, we are entitled to receive revelation to guide us and comfort us.   "When we speak to Heavenly Father, we do so by means of prayer. When he speaks to us, he does so by means of personal revelation."  So spoke  L. Lionel Kendrick

in a 1997 devotional.  I find this statement wonderfully simple and direct.  Brother Kendrick goes on to explain, 

"This two-way divine communication is critically important to our success, to our sense of well-being, to our feelings of security, and to our spiritual salvation. It is imperative that we understand the process of receiving personal revelation."

Questions to ponder:  Should I seek personal revelation?  How will I receive personal revelation or identify it when it comes?  What should our response be to personal revelation?  How do we prepare to receive revelation?  It is humbling to me to note that the Savior intercedes on our behalf with Heavenly Father.  We direct our prayers to the Father by virtue of our understanding that the answers, the consideration, the authority is at that throne.  Who answers our prayers for guidance?  "
It is by means of the Holy Ghost that personal revelations are received. It is the Spirit that communicates with our spirit in receiving revelation. The Savior promised, “God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit” (D&C 121:26).

The talk given by Brother Kendrick is very enlightening as to how and why and in what manner personal revelation can be obtained.  I can help prepare myself for the guidance I so sorely need by way of sincere prayer, thoughtful consideration, and a humble, teachable attitude.  Is there ever a time when the answers to our prayers are answered by a lack of revelation?  What other scriptures or talks can you find on this topic?  Here are the "top 25 quotes" by Brother Kendrick.

A glimpse into the life of my mom and dad?

My dad, Ben Hill, was a letter-writer.  The following copy of a letter he wrote, (he knew what carbon paper was for), has allowed me a glimpse into his thoughts and doings on the 19th of August, 1984.  

Let me set the stage a bit.  I can't get too specific without revealing matters that might be private and/or sensitive or cause discomfort to some.  

However, the letter is addressed to my son, Richard, who was filling a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Dear Elder, my dad writes, "we have been out of church since 12:30 p.m."--(this is on a Sunday afternoon that he is describing), "we watched Jimmy Connors lose three dismal sets of tennis to ignoble John McEnroe.  Meanwhile, time has gone by until 2:19 p.m.  Your grandmother, [Opal], wasn't too talkative until I mentioned how I thanked Brother and Sister Unitt for their [very] spiritual testimony.  It was at that point, that your grandmother told me very matter-of-factually, that she wanted to be baptized and had spoken to the Bishop about it.  We both had a good cry!  ...we both thanked Heavenly Father for being so good to both of us...I still have trouble taking it all in...

"Your grandmother said that she wanted me to know first.  Then, she is going over to Ben and Becky's to give them the news, then to Margaret's and Sarah's and finally to her Aunt Hazel's.

"Your mom (moi) has been down in spirit; I know this is going to spruce her up, considerably.

"Okaloosa County has been having a lot of political spirit for the past couple of months; there are so many signs posted that the ground hogs and gophers are making a detour up through Alabama for fear they'll have the sharp end driven through their "noggins"!

"Give your companion our love and baptize, baptize, baptize.  Then, get your breath and baptize some more!

"Grant Adams and John Barrow are coming to home teach us on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.  Opal is going to tell Grant that his productive seeds have sprouted!  And I have promised President Elroy Stapleton that I will let him know about the baptism; he wants to come down from Crestview for the baptism of your grandmother.

"We love you very much, Richard!  Bye for now, Grandpa and Grandma Hill.  P. S. We enjoyed the pictures; I'm enclosing a clipping of the baseball game."

Church Books and More: for Sale or Loan

I have a ton of church and other books that must find new homes due to my inability to store and/or display them.  (I live in a small one-bedroom apartment!) 

I'm going to offer these books for sale but if you would just like to borrow one, I can go with that, also!  I can hand deliver these books if we both happen to be going to the same place at the same time.  Or, I can mail you the book (you pay the postage). 

More to come...

• Book List (For Sale or Loan)!