Gospel Theory Podcast Archives - Called to Learn

(written for LDS Homeschool Conference, 2013)

Four Myths About Public Education

This is concerning public education in general not individual teachers

1 - School teaches you everything you need to know for life

TRUTH - Schools do not teach you about 1) God: we are His children, His spiritual DNA, we are Love, we have enough Security and Self-Esteem,Doctrines, Principles and righteous application. 2) Relationships: how to have eternal happy families, great spouse and children relationships, lasting friendships, 3) Finances: investing, creating residual incomes, how to make all your money back if you loose it (true security), marketing: how to create your own business and attract sales. or 4) How to think for yourself: make decisions, solve problems, be creative, seek new experiences.

Without these, what good is everything else? We can only take our knowledge, understandings, and relationships with us back to heaven, why not create enlarged knowledge, enlightened understanding and enriched relationships?

2 - School teaches to each individual child

TRUTH - They teach to the masses. They make each child conform to what everyone else is doing. Our world is filled with more stimuli than ever in the history of mankind and schools ask them why they are so distracted. ADHD diagnosis have gone up parallel to the increase of standardized testing.

3 - School will fill in the gaps for your child

TRUTH - What is the achievement gap? Who set the standard? You can see the gap as early as is the first day of kindergarten, due to a number of factors including economic background, educational background (how educated are the student’s parents?), nutritional intake, genetics, and parental guidance. It would reflect poor reasoning to believe that school reform alone could ever close the gap, if there really is a gap.

4 - Giving More Homework Means More Learning

TRUTH - giving children, especially grade school and middle school students, homework has found to my tenuous at best. Some public school have begun to prohibit homework on weekends and holidays. What is best for children is to give them plenty of free time to roam and imagine.

Three Myths About Home Education

1 - I can’t teach my own children

TRUTH - YOU are their BEST teacher; God gave them to YOU to teach. YOUR experiences and life are what your children need to fulfill their mission. God trusted you, when will you trust yourself?

2 - I have to know everything before I can teach (I don’t know enough.)

TRUTH - You have everything you need already within YOU. Love, Security, Self-esteem, Creativity, new experiences, recognition. We are ONE.

The Grandma Approach. “What is that?”, “How did you do that?”, “Show me that again”, “Wow, that was so amazing”, “You are so good at this.”

3 - You have to learn by subjects / compartmentalized learning

TRUTH - we can teach with principles! Teach a principle within ALL subjects. See them all as one whole with many examples of the same principle. For example: The Law of Polarity, everything has an equal opposite, find it in lips, hands, stomas, architecture, paper, what about problems, questions, lack/wealth, etc.

S.O.U.L. Self Organized Learning Experiences

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(written for Millennial Press, Gathering of Israel edition, 2019, not published)

Have you witnessed the majesty and power of God? Did you know that “the Heaven’s Declare the Glory of God?"1 When we look into the heavens on a beautiful clear night there is much more than twinkling stars. With “eyes to see”2 we will recognize how “all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator”3 and the “stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.”4 In the book of Moses, we read that “all things are created and made to bear record of [God], . . . things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth . . . : all things bear record of [Christ] ”5 The stars are no exception.

The study of astronomy dates back to the ancient prophets.6 Abraham kept a record of “the fathers, even the patriarchs, concerning . . . the creation, and also of the planets, and of the stars, as they were made known unto the fathers.”7 Studying the position of the stars and planets in conjunction with the holy scriptures is a key that can help us understand the “signs” of the Second coming. However, we must remember that everything God creates Satan has a counterfeit which he clearly has with the zodiac signs through astrology. This has caused fear and many avoid the subject all together.

This article focuses on evidence discovered and provided to us by the research of Frances Rolleston8, the books of E.W. Bullinger9 and J.A. Seiss10 and the articles of John Pratt.11 These works through the names of the stars tell us a story - the story of Christ and the births of the twelve sons of Israel.

What is a Constellation?

The constellations were not made up from what they looked like in the sky, on the contrary, they were given to us through the names of the stars, the images are to remind us of the stars. Think of it as a pneumonic to help you remember the image so you can remember the story.

A constellation is a group of stars, the image and its meaning is given to us by the names of the brightest to the least brightest stars.

There are twelve main constellations that the sun follows and each of those twelve have three decan or companion constellations that help tell their story. Making a total of forty eight constellations in the sky.

Pratt explains the rotation of the stars like a clock.

“The sun, moon, and planets are like the hands on a huge clock, with the twelve zodiac constellations through which they move being the twelve numbers on the clock face. The Lord uses his clock to time key events in world history.”12

What is a Zodiac?

The sun only travels through or “touches” twelve constellations. The Hebrews called them “mazzaroth”13 or “a garland of crowns.”We call them “zodiac” from the Greeks meaning “animal path,” probably because there are six animal figures within the zodiac. The sun is “in” a constellation if the constellation is in the east as the sun rises in the morning. These twelve constellations approximately correlate with our twelves months of the year. It takes the sun three to five weeks to go through one zodiac constellation.

Pratt references the apocalyptic book of Enoch14 that tells us that he received the constellations from God, passed them to Noah who handed them to his children until Abraham. He studied them and shared them with his people and the Egyptians who shared them with the Greeks. Through the years the stories have changed, but the star names have not.

The Bible and the Stars

The Bible and the stars stand as witnesses of God. They both testify of the existence of God and they are forms of communication. They also reveal knowledge. Psalms 19:1-4 compares the heavens to the scriptures.

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

Only the heavens have been available to all people. They covey messages and information to the world. God created the heavens to communicate his “signs.” Notice how he worded it, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years…” (Genesis 1:14) The first reason God created the heavens was for “signs.” Signs provide guidance, information and warn us. The stars and scriptures are witnesses of God’s existence and ways he communicates messages to us.

The Twelve Tribes and the Constellations

In the Hebrew tradition each of the twelve tribes are associated with the twelve constellations of the zodiac.15 In the Old Testament, Joseph dreamed of the sun, moon and eleven stars bowing down to him.16 The eleven stars were understood to be his brothers. Could not these stars actually be constellations? There are three ways this connection is made.

First, many of the meanings of the son’s names give us clues as to their symbol which often that correlates with a constellation.

Second, the blessing each son received from their father, Jacob, give us clues as to what their symbol or the meaning of their associated constellation.

Lastly, the work of John Pratt with the Mayan Sacred Round, Enoch calendar and the Hebrew Calendar17 shows the importance of the holy days. He discovered that each of the twelve were born on holy days. He shows how each of these holy days correlate with a constellation. Let’s explore four examples.

The “Cornerstone” Constellations

Ezekiel and John had a vision describing the four headed figure, one head of a man, another a lion, an ox, and a head of an eagle. Each head matches the four principal tribes and the four "cornerstone" constellations.18 The principle tribes in Israels camp are: Reuben, Judah, Dan and Joseph which correspond with the gemstones on the high priests breastplate.19

Reuben is compared to a man and to water which matches up with the Water Bearer (Aquarius).20 Judah is compared to a lion.21 His name means “praised” referencing the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah”22 or King of Kings. Dan is said to be a serpent (counterpart of an eagle) like the Scorpion (Scorpius).23 His name means “judge.” Moses compared Joseph’s twin sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to the two horns of the wild ox or Bull (Taurus), and it was Joseph that would “push the people together from the ends of the earth”24 referring to the gathering in the last days. These four sons are the leaders assigned to the four directions25 and these four constellations are evenly spaced around the circle as are the four points of a compass.26

The constellations themselves tell of Christ, His Story from the pre-existence and creation of the world to His second coming. Are we reading and understanding the language of the stars? Are we seeing the “signs” in the heavens? Neal A. Maxwell asked, “God is giving away the spiritual secrets of the universe, but are we listening?”27 Much can be learned through the study of the stars and the scriptures together especially about the gathering of Israel and the preparation for the Second Coming.

References:

Psalms 19:1
Isaiah 6:10
Alma 30:44
D&C 88:45
(Moses 6:63; emphasis added).
Seiss, Joseph A., “The Gospel in the Stars.” The author takes the ancient records of the Persians, Egyptians and Greeks and finds their origins to the gospel. Great study.
Abraham 1:31
Rolleston, Frances. “Mazzaroth: the Constellations.” She collected a mass of information and facts presented by Albumazar, the Arab astronomer to the Caliphs of Grenada, AD 850; and the Tables drawn up by Ulugh Beigh, the Tartar prince and astronomer, about AD 1450, who gives the Arabian astronomy as it had come down from the earliest times.
Bullinger, Ethelbert W., “The Witness of the Stars,” 1893. This work was an attempt to popularize the work of Frances Rolleston’s information, and to “use it in the interest of truth.”
Seiss, Joseph A., “The Gospel in the Stars,” 1882. He also wanted to popularize the works of Frances Rolleston.
Pratt, John. “The Constellations Testify of Christ,” http://johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2001/constellations.html
Pratt, John. “Twelve Sons, Twelve Constellations”, Reprinted from Meridian Magazine, 13 July 2005. https://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2005/12sons.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazzaroth
D&C 91:1-3 “The Apocrypha is mostly translated correctly.”
ibid
Genesis 37:9
Pratt, John. “God’s Perpetual Hebrew Calendar” written in 2017http://johnpratt.com/items/docs/2017/phc.html
Ezekiel 1:10, Revelations 4:7
Neil, Tresta. “Breastplate of Gemstones” The Millennial Instructor, Volume II, Millennial Standard Press, 2018, pages 88-89.
Genesis 49:4
Genesis 49:9
Revelation 5:5
Genesis 49:17
Deut. 33:17, D&C 58:45
Num 2:3, 10, 18, 25
“The Cornerstone Constellations” written in 2001 http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2001/4corners.html#2.7 and “The Lion and Unicorn Testify of Christ, Part I: The Cornerstone Constellations” written in 2001 http://johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2001/4corners.html
Neal A. Maxwell, “Our Creator’s Cosmos,” in By Study and by Faith: Selections from the Religious Educator, ed. Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Kent P. Jackson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2009), 37–50.https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/study-and-faith-selections-religious-educator/our-creators-cosmos The post Twelve Tribes, Twelve Constellations appeared first on Called to Learn.

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Learn about bees, their life, activities, relationships, duties, etc. There are some resources/links provided below or you can find other resources. Ask yourself, “What principles can be discovered with this knowledge?” Then write the principle in the shapes in the handout provided. Include an action you are willing to do to help you follow that principle better.

| info | Bee Life | Resources | | Difference between wasps and bees | Wasps make their nest out of paper, bees make strong wax homes. Wasps enter their nests from underneath and bees from the side. Bees make their honey comb pointing upwards and wasps point down. Bees only have one stinger that they give their life to use and wasps sting multiple times. Wasps eat bugs like aphids and rotten food while bees eat nectar from plants. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characteristics_of_common_wasps_and_bees | | Pollination | Bees have an instinct to go to only one type of flower. This is so that they can carry the right type of pollen to the same type of flower. Otherwise we would have mixed up flowers and fruits called cross breeds. | go to one type of flower. http://nativeplants.msu.edu/pollination and https://honeybeesuite.com/pollen-collection/ | | Beeswax | New wax is white and clean. Over time it becomes dark, stained and impure. Heat purifies the wax, but the only way to make it white again is to put it in the sun light. | bee hives and you https://www.lds.org/new-era/2011/11/bees-beehives-and-you?lang=eng | | Honey Comb | The honey comb uses the hexagon shape which allows the least amount of wax for the maximum amount of space. | ted talk on bees and hexagons: https://youtu.be/QEzlsjAqADA hexagons and bees - http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/05/13/183704091/what-is-it-about-bees-and-hexagons | | Honey | A bee makes 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. | https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/be-anxiously-engaged?lang=eng | | Communi-cation | When bees find the nectar, they don’t selfishly keep it a secret. Rather, they hustle back home to tell their sisters, communicating the directions through an enthusiastic waggle dance to create a map. | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/the-lessons-of-bees_b_8009026.html | | Daily Action | The bees work together to find nectar, make and build beeswax and honey, raise the baby bees and organize work, sleep and feeding times. | bee hives and you https://www.lds.org/new-era/2011/11/bees-beehives-and-you?lang=eng | | Statistics | the bees need 60 to 80 pounds of honey for food to survive the winter.it takes 8 ounces of honey to make 1 ounce of wax1 1/2 ounces of wax hold 4 pounds of honeybees can travel 3 to 5 miles in search of nectarworker bees are female and live 4 - 6 weeks | http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/05/13/183704091/what-is-it-about-bees-and-hexagons | | future oriented | Bees are doing the work of making honey, not for themselves, but for their yet-to-emerge sisters and brothers and for the health of the colony. | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/the-lessons-of-bees_b_8009026.html | | honey | honey has many beneficial and healing qualities | http://visual.ly/50-benefits-raw-honey | | anciently | Jaredites brought bees with them to promised landEgyptians used honey as medicine and embalmingHebrews put honey on their slates and have the young students lick it off to teach them that the word of God is sweet and should be internalizedThe Roman Christians used the beehive as a symbol of rebirth (octagonal baptismal fonts) on the path back to God. | | | beehive | used as a symbol within and without the temples. Also used as a symbol for industry, unity and hard work. | | | prophets words | “Bee anxiously engaged in a good cause.”Hinckley’s 6 B’s make a “to be” list never to be checked off | |

Remember a correct principle is a true statement that can lead to an action, it is not a single word or the action itself.

File your work in your zoology notebooks under the class: Insecta, phylum: Arthropoda and genus: Apis

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Music has been important throughout history. Here is a music list you and your children can get to know at just the sound of the piece.

While attending a Humanities class in college I learned to really love classical music and its many facets. Enjoy.

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(written by Tresta Neil taken from notes from Thomas L. Tyler's CES classes)

Receiving greater understanding from “the virtue of the word” by being aware of common Hebrew literary styles found in the scriptures. There are seven characteristics:

Clear Statements of Truth from the Lord - often given in the context of the prophet’s personal experience, with the expectation that the truth will be learned and applied.
The Broader Context - the verses before and after, as well as the circumstances.
Contrasts describing good and evil or obedient and rebellious.
Repetition of ideas are used to help define, clarify, emphasize and expand understanding. This repetition is called “parallelisms.”
Lists are common in individual verses as well as whole chapters like the Ten Commandments.
Cause-and-Effect Statements are used to stress the importance of responsibility to obey. They show the positive and the negative consequences of choice. Example: “if ye keep the commandments, ye shall prosper in the land.”
Words with significant symbolism, literal and figurative meanings as well as for their poetic beauty. Example: “Feast upon the words of Christ.”

Benefits of using and applying the Hebrew Thought Patterns

Recognize the Savior’s loving kindness in teaching us truth and warning us of Satan’s destructive influences.
Retain passages in a broader context
Receive Clearer ideas and cross-references between passages
Remember Meaningful imagery, words and symbols
Increased ability to liken or apply the scripture to your own life
“Mental hooks” to “hang” doctrinal insights and ideas onto to help you remember more
Memorize Scripture passages with ease

The Hebrew Thought Patterns are usually not lost in translation because they are concepts and not rhythmical or rhyming. When seeking out this pattern write the principle thought or Statement of Truth on its own line. Indented below write the repetitions, parallelisms, contrasts or lists. This format helps the reader visually and readily see the relationship of thoughts and ideas. Isaiah 1:16-20 is an example of all of them together.

Isaiah 1:16-20 Uses many patterns:

Wash you,

make you clean;

put away the evil of your doings

from before mine eyes;

cease to do evil;

learn to do well;

Seek judgment,

relieve the oppressed,

judge the fatherless,

plead from the widow.

Statement of truth using symbol of baptism

(a) clarify repetition of first idea

(b) Restated in contrast for clarity

Emphasizes the Lord’s awareness of us

(b) contrast is repeated and expanded

(a) 4th repetition. Return to the positive meaning

Second statement of truth. Judgment

(a) List of basic righteous functions stated in

(b) three clarifying

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD

though your sins be as scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow

though they be red like crimson,

they call be as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient,

ye shall eat the good of the land:

But if ye refuse and rebel,

ye shall be devoured with the sword:

For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Statement of truth

(a) contrasting symbols - color fast dyes

(b) can be removed

(a) repeated contrast - sins stain

(b) the Savior washes then clean

Cause and Effect statement another blessing

Listed in the larger context of above verses.

Cause and Effect statement repeated in contrast

Statements of truth are reaffirmed in the

spirit of testimony.

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On the southern edge of North Carolina stands the little city of Charlotte. The people of this section were full of the love of liberty. In less than one month after the Battle of Lexington they began to talk in favor of declaring independence from England. Five years afterwards, when Lord Cornwallis, the commander-in-chief of the British during the Revolution, came to Charlotte with his army, he found the people so eager to fight for their freedom, that he always called this little town the hornets’ nest of the rebellion.Early inhale fall of 1780 these hornets were buzzing. The patriots had been defeated in the Battle of Camden. Lord Cornwallis now felt sure of success in North Carolina, and was marching toward the Old North State, with the intention of making his first stop at Charlotte.The British soldiers robbed the patriots of their sheep and cattle, burned their houses and their crops, stole their horses, and drove their women and children into the woods.“I wil protect your property and pay you for everything my army need,” declared Lord Cornwallis, “but you must take the oath of allegiance to King George.”“Never!” was the determined answer of the bold North Carolina patriots. “We have pledged our lives, our fortunes, and our honor to the cause of freedom, and we will not break our oaths. We will fight you to the bitter end.”And fight they did, men, women, an children, and with a will. They made things so lively for the redcoats that they dreaded to be sent into the country for supplies. No matter if a whole regiment went out, it was certain to lose some of its men before it got back to Charlotte. From behind trees, bushes, barns, and fences the deal fire of the patriots thinned the ranks of the hated British.One morning, while Cornwallis and his army were at Charlotte, a boy named John Clarke was at work in the field on his father’s farm, about seven miles from town. The boy’s father and brother were in the patriot army. John was left at home to take care of his mother and sisters.He suddenly heard a great clatter down the road. he looked up and saw British soldiers coming into sight, round the bend in the road. He ran into the house with a shout.“The redcoats are here. The whole army is coming up the road!”In a few moments the British were riding up the lane.Now John Clarke’s mother had already had experience with British officers an knew what they were. She sent the girls upstairs and seated herself on the piazza with John, to await the coming of the soldiers.The leader of the redcoats halted his men near the house, leaped from his horse, and came up to the piazza.“We are in need of supplies, and must search this place.”“As you please,” replied Mrs Clarke, quietly. “You have already stolen everything, and you will find nothing.”The soldiers now began to search the house. Some went to the barn. Others ransacked the shed. They could not find much.“I say, boy,” growled the British leader, returning to the piazza, “we can’t find anything here; you must have hidden something somewhere.”“Of course,” grinned John. “We have one poor cow left; but you can’t get her for she’s out in the woods, over a mile away.”The officer was angry.“One cow isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing. Take one of the horses and drive her in; and be quick about it, you young rebel!”John leaped on one of the horses, which had been tied to the rail fence. Some of the men tried to stop him.“That’s all right!” shouted the British captain; “he’s going on a errand for me.”Trotting his horse be a row of beehives, John leaned over and upset several of them. He then struck is horse a sharp blow with a switch and away went horse and rider out of the lane and into the road. They were soon lost to sight in the woods.The yard was now worse then a hornets’ nest. The angry bees swarmed out of the hives till the air seemed full of them. The horse, maddened by the sting of the bees, began to plunge and kick. With oaths the redcoats ran here and there to escape. It was of no use. The bees made it so hot for them that they went heat-skelter down the road.John had looked back as he rode out of the lane. It was a sight that he never forgot. As soon as he was in the shelter of the woods he jumped off the horse and lay of the ground and laughed, while the British troopers went riding pell-mell past.The road was soon clear of the redcoats, and John went back to the house to tell his mother and sisters.“It was a funny sight, “ he said. “You never saw anything like it. Some of those chaps had their eyes shut tight. Some of their noses looked like powder horns. And they swore like troopers. I think I had better write General Washington about it; it is better than powder and balls.”_______________________________This is a story I found in:Little Story Book About Big American HeroesDarlene P. Stoker and B. Elaine CleggReprinted from The American History Story bookby Albert F. Blaisdell and Francis K. Ball 1917Illustrations byW. Kay CleggCover byTodd K. Cleggcopyright 1998 bySC EnterprisesIdaho Falls, IdahoThe preface is written by Albert F. Baisdell and Francis K. 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The First Shall be Last and the Last Shall be First

(taken from notes taken by Tresta Neil from a lecture by Victor Ludlow)

A - Lost Ten Tribes - 730s BCE

The twelve Tribes of Israel lived in harmony through the reign of King David and King Solomon. After that they split into two groups. Ten tribes went to the North and two to the South. In 730 BCE the Assyrians captured the northern ten tribes, they adopted the culture and religions of the region and quickly lost their identity as Israelites.

B - Lehites - 586 BCE and 600 BCE

Descendants of Lehi, Ishmael, Zoram, Mulek and others left Jerusalem area and settled in the Americas. Lehi called himself a Jew, like we call ourselves American, though he was not a direct descendant of Judah.

C - Jews - 586 BCE and 70 CE

All descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Levi residing in the kingdom of Judah. In 586 BCE Babylon conquered Judah and destroyed Solomon's temple. Some returned, built Herod's temple and grew. In 70 CE Rome subdued the Jews after their revolt and they dispersed among the nations of Asia, Africa and Europe.

D - Scattered Remnants - unknown dates

Various unidentified segments of Israel who migrated throughout the world. (see D&C 109:60-67, including footnotes, for some identifying terms and key promises of these 'scattered remnants'.) they lost their ancestry and language

D - Scattered Remnants - 1836

Various scattered remnants of Israelites, also known as 'Ephraim' or 'Gentiles' dedicated the newly built Kirtland Temple (see the dedicatory prayer D&C 109:60-67) Patriarchal blessings have helped identify many of these scattered remnants of Israel.

C - Jews - 1948

The Jews who were scattered in their 'Diaspora' among the nations of Asia, Africa, Europe and eventually into the Americas retained a hope of returning to their homeland. In 1841, Orson Hyde dedicated the Holy Land for their return. In 1948 the State of Israel was officially forms and hundreds of thousands of Jews gathered in Israel and were taught the Hebrew language and Jewish culture.

B - Lehites - 1970's

The descendants of the Book of Mormon were proselyted to throughout church history. Finally, in the 1970's, during the administration of President Spencer W. Kimball, the church began to grow among the Lamanites scattered among the indigenous and European peoples in Central and South America. In October 1975 President Kimball said, "now is the time of the Jew [Lamanite/Israelite]" and nine new LDS stakes were organized in Mexico city on a single weekend.

A - Lost Ten Tribes - Unknown? 2019?

Descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes are undoubtedly scattered into many parts of the world. They are probably lost to themselves, meaning they don't know they are literal descendants of Israel. Patriarchal Blessings are identifying these northern tribes. Further scriptural knowledge (2 Nephi 29:12-14) will help identify these people and their heritage.

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"He that is among you without sin, let him cast the first stone." These are the words Jesus used to warn those who accused a woman of adultery (a serious sin punishable by stoning). In the Mosaic Law stones symbolized judgment and justice. The Atonement of Christ fulfilled the demands of justice and allowed mercy to enter. Stones also represented mercy in ceremonial events in their tabernacle.

The High Priest, a type of Christ, wore four more pieces of clothing than the priests who wore four white linen clothes when they "[went] in before the Lord" (Ex. 28:29.) Namely:

Mitre, a gold headband with the words "Holiness to the Lord" (Exodus 39:30) engraved and tied onto the head over the turban with blue ribbons (Exodus 39:31.)
A dark blue robe with alternating gold bells and pomegranate ornaments hanging from the bottom.
The ephod, a very elaborate and ornate apron or waistcoat woven with blue, purple, scarlet and gold thread with two shoulder-pieces which held the breastplate of stones and a girdle or sash.
The breastplate, the same elaborate material holding twelve precious stones attached to the ephod.

No article of clothing was insignificant, each item was decorative, functional and symbolic.

The High Priest represents Christ as both divine and human. He wears spotless, white linen (priests clothing) representing Christ's perfect mortal life and gold representing his divinity and colors representing the varied perfections of his character (lectures on Faith).

Remembrance Stones

On each shoulder were two square stones made of black onyx, a semi precious stone with the same silica properties as quartz stones. Each of the 12 sons of Israel were inscribed on the stones, six on each side. It is believed they were listed in the same order as the scriptures list them, by family and then by birth (Genesis 35:23-26; Guide to the Scriptures, Israel; Exodus 28:9-10) therefore, on the right shoulder were Leah's six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon. On the left shoulder were Bilhah's sons, Dan and Naphtali, Zilpah's sons Gad and Asher, and Rachel's sons Joseph and Benjamin. (Exodus 28:9-10.)

These stones are called "remembrance stones" for the names of the children of Israel who were carried "before God on [the High Priest's] two shoulders as a remembrance" (Exodus 28:12) of bearing the judgment (burden) of their sins and is moved to have mercy upon them.

The stones were set in two square gold settings fixed on the shoulders of the ephod. Golden chains extended from these settings to the golden rings of the upper corners of the breastplate not to be "loosed from the ephod" (Exodus 39:21.) The lower corners were fastened to the girdle of the priest with blue ribbons.

The Breastplate

The breastplate is a ten inch square, embroidered ornamental cloth, covering the breast of the high priest. It is set with four rows of precious stones, three in each row. On each stone is engraved the name of one of the twelve sons of Israel.

The names were not simply written on the precious stones, but "engraved," never to be removed or forgotten. These names are symbolic of his people, all of us. Through the Atonement we are engraved upon Christ's heart and hands.

The breastplate is called both the memorial and the breastplate of judgment. The High Priest, acting as Jesus Christ, wears the breastplate that he might always remember his people (see Exodus 28:29) and "bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart" (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8.)

Christ, as our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), bears on his heart each of us, sustaining and presenting us, his blood-bought people before God. He presents us faultless (like precious gems) before God with exceeding joy. No one can separate us from his love nor pluck us from the Shepherd's heart.

The Twelve Stones

The twelve stones were arranged in four rows of three stones. They were arranged right to left. According to John Pratt, author of the article, Twelve Sons, Twelve Stones, the top row begins with Judah on a red sard or Odem stone (possibly ruby), Issachar on a tan topaz and Zebulon on a yellow green Chrysophrase (peridot). These three tribes were camped on the east of the temple. East is the sacred direction where the temple faced and from where Christ will return.

The next row is Dan on a red, black Jacinth (garnet), Naphtali on a light blue chalcedony (aquamarine) and Gad on an orange jasper (fire opal). These were the camps north of the temple or on the left hand of the priest who faced east at the head of the altar. On his right hand or south is Reuben on a royal blue Lapis Lazuli (sapphire), Simeon on a green Emerald quartz and Levi on a purple amethyst. The last row consisted of Asher on a yellow Chysolite (chrysoberyl), Joseph on a white beryl (diamond) and Benjamin on a red and white sardonyx, rose quartz (pink tourmaline). These tribes camped on the west of the temple or behind the priest.

When the Israelite set up camps in the promised land Levi's tribe became the priests, Gad and Asher moved up and Joseph's inheritance, as birthright son, split into two, Ephraim and Manasseh.

This left the four cornerstones or chief tribes as Judah, Dan, Reuben and Ephraim, the first in each row. Judah, the tribe from which Christ was born, being in the south east corner position or the chief cornerstone.

Christ is the "head stone of the corner" of Israel (Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42)

Each of these cornerstones represent Christ, Judah as the Chief cornerstone, Dan as the Judge, Reuben as the first born son and Joseph as the birthright son. Judah, Christ's own tribe, judged him in HIs life now, through the Atonement, he will judge them and the world.

Urim and Thummim

Two more stones appear on the High Priest's garment. A pocket behind the breastplate was made to hold the Urim and Thummim, “an instrument prepared of God to assist man in obtaining revelation from the Lord" (Bible Dictionary). Joseph Smith described it as "two transparent stones set in the rim of a [silver] bow" (HC 4:537; JS-H 1:35).

God asked the High Priest to "put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and Thummim" (Exodus 28:30). They were to be worn on the heart of the High Priest that he may "bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually." (Exodus 28:30) just as Jesus bears all our judgment through the Atonement.

We are engraved upon the heart of Christ, the precious "living stone." He is the "headstone of the corner" (Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42) his kingdom on earth which is a stone "cut out without hands" (Daniel 2:34-5) He bears our names "upon his heart" (Exodus 28:29) we are forever “before him” (Luke 9:52). His love and "mercy extends to those who fear him" (Luke 1:50) When we accept his atoning act of bearing our sins we acknowledge his command to "go and sin no more." (John 8:11)

Resources

LDS Scriptures: Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants
Lenet Hadley Read, All Things Testify of Him, January 1981 https://www.lds.org/ensign/1981/01/all-things-testify-of-him-understanding-symbolism-in-the-scriptures?lang=eng&clang=ase
John P. Pratt, Twelve Sons, Twelve Stones, 3 August 2005, Meridian magazine http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2005/12stones.html The post Breastplate of Gem Stones Upon His Heart appeared first on Called to Learn.

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"The fountains of the great deep [were] broken up, ...

upon the earth forty days and forty nights.” (Genesis 7:11)

(written by Tresta Neil in 2018 for the Millennial Press, published in the Rock volume)

This quotation from the Book of Genesis is part of the familiar story of Noah and the Flood. This story is not just found in the Bible but in many cultures throughout the world including the Mesopotamian flood story in the epic of Gilgamesh, Bergelmir in Norse mythology and Manu in Hinduism. Non-religious scholars believe the deluge or global flood to a myth or an idea and not an actual occurrence. However, scientist, Dean Sessions has discovered evidence that may prove Noah's flood actually occurred. He shows, through rock formations, where the flood water came from. He named these startling discoveries “hydrofountains.”

In his book, The Universal Model, The Earth System, Session shows how the earth could be a hydrosphere (filled with water) and that a universal flood could be explained by having the water from below or "the fountains of the great deep [breaking] up" along the fault lines with great amounts of force covering the earth with water. With such force from below and the weight of the water pushing down on the earth's crust many unique rock formations were created. Many of which can be recognized by their vertical lines.

Five of these fossilized, vertical formations include:

1. Rock Pillar Formations are sandstone conduits through which, Session claims, frictionally heated water from below the ground came up while the Earth was covered with flood waters. Generally these formations are of a different color than the rock around them, this is because the sand came from a different place and was cemented there with the pressure of the flood waters.

Example: Arizona Rock Pipes found in Monument Valley in Arizona/Utah.

2. Basalt Columns like Basalt is the main type of rock that comprises the crust under the oceans. Sessions claims these basalt columns were formed by water coming up from under the granite continents bringing with it basalt and other minerals that formed these amazing vertical formations.

Example: Devil's Tower in Wyoming.

3. Clastic Dikes are vertical rock formations within horizontal rocks. These formations have baffled scientist for years. Session says these are examples of the hydrofountain process (water coming from below the earth), which involves "hyprethermal" (water, pressure and heat) conditions with strong earthquakes.

Example: clastic dikes near the Dead Sea.

4. Deep Round Pits/Caves are large holes in the ground caused by heated water. Think about how a pancakes has circular holes pop open when on the skillet because the water heated and steam is released. The diamonds in the African Kimberley Diamond Mine were not formed from molten magma or melted rock, but, Session writes, from heated water and pressure when this hydrofountain was active during the Universal Flood.

Example: the African Kimberley Diamond Mine.

5. Salt Domes are pure salt found in underground pillars. They are vertical pillars sometimes as much as a mile wide. No one knows how deep they go. Session shows how salt can not be formed without water, heat and pressure. They were formed in the "deep" and pushed upward.

Example: Salt domes in Louisiana.

Of course, knowledge about fossilized hydrofountains showing how the flood came mostly from the "fountains of the great deep" is shallow without the possibility of this earth being a hydrosphere. What are your thoughts?

For more on the New Millennial Science Dean Sessions is bringing to the surface see UniversalModel.com. The post Fossilized Hydrofountains appeared first on Called to Learn.

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Certainly we all want to instill in our children correct principles that will be anchors and guides for them throughout their lives and help them govern themselves. Understanding more about principles will help us to better teach them.

Principles are discovered NOT created or invented.

Do you know how to discover them?

There are two types of principles, causal and sequential. Causal principles are principles that cause change. They usually have multiple causes and/or multiple effects. Sequential principles follow a sequence of natural events.

Causal principles are discovered by looking for cause-and-effect relationships between two or more changes. You do this by analyzing the actions, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals or groups, and identifying the blessings or consequences that came as a result. Here is how:

Discover Causal Principles by:

Choose a whole concept from an inspiring story, poem, talk, piece of art, music, etc. something filled with light and truth and touches the heart. Research the context around the concept.
Discover the FACTS by asking questions like,
- “What is the moral or point of the story?”
- “Why do you think the writer included these events or passages?”
- “What did the author intend for us to learn?”
- “What are some of the fundamental truths taught?”
- “What does God want me to understand about this?”
- “Is there any consequences/blessing to an action or behavior?” “If so, what?”
Write a clear, believable, simple, "if-then" or cause and effect statement of principle. For example, "If I keep the commandments of the Lord, he will prosper me in the land." This helps us UNDERSTAND the message the Lord desires us to discover. In the introduction of "Eternal Marriage Student Manual" we read, "In a religious principle the if part is a statement of general counsel from the Lord. The then part is the promised results of obeying or disobeying that counsel. God determines the then part according to His wisdom."
For example:
- “If we choose to obey the Lord, He will be with us” (Shadrach , Meshach & Abednego in the furnace)
- “When we make and keep covenants with the Lord, He permits us to enter His Holy house.”

Sequential principles follow a sequence of natural events. It is a relationship between two or more changes in which one change does not cause the next, it just naturally precedes it. Don't get confused with a procedure which is a sequence of actions performed by a person. The growth of a plant follows sequential principles. Following a recipe is a procedure.

Sequential principles may be linear (with a beginning and an end) or cyclical (with no beginning or end).

Cyclical principles are sequential principle of natural events that repeat the same pattern, they have no beginning or end. An example is a seed grows into a plant, into a flower into more seeds and continues the cycle or the life cycle of a frog or our circulatory system.

Other cycles are the Agency Cycle or the Pride Cycle, these are cycles you can change, stop or “jump off” by the choices you make.

Linear principles are sequential principle of natural events that do not repeat, they have a beginning and an end. An example would be the history of the earth or the Plan of Salvation. One event does not “cause” the other, it naturally occurs.

Discover Sequential Principles by:

Looking for natural patterns, things that happen one after another naturally. Things that make a logical progression, that are natural links.
Looking for patterns that come after or before each other
Write out their order in a cycle or a line.
Ask yourself, "How does this principle APPLY to my life?" Make connections between this principle and your life. If this principle speaks to your SPIRIT, choose an action and commit to do it.

Teaching with principles is far more effective than teaching with procedure or concepts. For more see, The Principle Effect at CalledtoLearn.com/principle

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(written by Tresta Neil 2017 for the Millennial Press, Rock volume, not published)

God uses the geography of the continents to teach us. One main message he taught was we need not fear. Christ used Mt. Carmel, a symbol of richness and fruitfulness, in several metaphors. He used this same Israelite mountain in modern prophesy, "As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon the Saints." (D&C 128:19) Understanding the geography of Mt. Carmel (Hebrew Kerem-El means "Garden of God" see Isaiah 33:9; Jerimiah 50:19) and how it averages 250 dew-nights a year because of its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea helps give us a visual of how much knowledge God wants to give his Saints and how we need not fear ignorance.

The story of Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream teaches us, through geography and history, to have courage in sharing the gospel. First, Daniel tells the king what he saw in his dream. "Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form of thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass. His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay." (Daniel 2:31-35) This impressed King Nebuchadnezzar and was he willing to hear the interpretation.Daniel explained the great image's body represented five different kingdoms. Each kingdom being slightly inferior to the one before. Daniel revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar that he, and his great kingdom, was like the head of gold (Dan. 2:38). His kingdom would be overpowered by a weaker kingdom and that pattern would continue until all the land becomes a mixture of smaller, strong and weak, nations who "share the control of the earth." (SWK) like the pieces of iron and clay in the feet.

Most of Earth's recorded history took place in the northern hemisphere. Nebuchadnezzar's rock image lays across the Asian and European continent with its head stretching over Asia and its toes reaching across the ocean to America. Orson Pratt gave us a detailed explanation of these countries through history. (see "The Setting Up of God's Kingdom in These Latter Days." Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, February 4, 1872. http://scriptures.byu.edu/#:t249fb:j15)

Head of Gold - Babylonian Empire in Asia (Dan. 2:38)
Breast and Arms of Silver - Mead-Persian Kingdom a little west of the Babylonian Empire. (Dan 2:39)
Belly and Thighs of Brass - Macedonian [Greek] Empire westward (Dan 2:39)
Legs of Iron - Roman Empire comprising the eastern and western empires of Rome (Dan 2:40)
Feet and Toes of Clay - Present Kingdoms of Europe (Dan. 2:41) the toes branching across the Atlantic Ocean into the United States constituting the governments that have grown out of the European governments located in North and South America. Daniel continued the interpretation, "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth." (Daniel 2:31-35)

The stone is a symbol of the last kingdom that will cover the earth and last forever. This kingdom will not be created by man, but will be established by an angel (Revelations 14:6-7) in behalf of the creator of stone, whose right it is to reign (D&C 58:22) and govern the nations of the earth, even Jesus Christ.

President Spencer W. Kimball defined the stone by saying,

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was restored in 1830 after numerous revelations from the divine source [including angles]; and this is the kingdom, set up by the God of heaven, that would never be destroyed nor superseded, and the stone cut out of the mountain without hands that would become a great mountain and would fill the whole earth." (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/ 1976/04/the-stone-cut-without-hands?lang=eng)

The Saints that walked the plains and their enemies that pushed them to "go beyond the Rocky Mountains" had no idea they were fulfilling this prophesy. No doubt any of them entertained the idea while they were being driven that their new home would be the place for God's Kingdom to roll forth.

Orson Pratt pointed out that from the top of the Rocky Mountains, the backbone of America, the stone was cut without hands and is rolling forth. Missionaries are being sent out throughout the world from the headquarters of the Church. The stone will roll forth first to North and South America and Europe, the feet of this great statue and then to remnants of the Roman Empires in East Europe and Africa. Finally it will sweep across the Macedonian/Greek and Persian Empires and across Asia until the whole earth has heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and accepted him as their Lord and King.

Truly, we need not fear the ways of the world God is sending the dews of Carmel upon the Saints. He teaches us through the geography of the Earth. We are a part of that stone, we belong to the Kingdom of God on Earth. As we share the gospel and help others turn to God we are helping the stone roll forth and fill the whole Earth. Roll On!

*ACTIVITY - color these different metals on a map in their appropriate areas. As you color think about how the gospel of Christ has spread across North and South America (the toes of the great statue), reaching across to Europe (the feet) and into the remnants of the Roman Empire in Eastern Europe.

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When Children Feel Understood They Listen to Advice

Have you ever felt excited to share something with a friend just to have her “one up” you with what she felt was better or worse?

This very thing happened to me last night when a friend of mine came over and I shared a miracle that had happened for me recently. She brushed it off like it was nothing to tell me something she was working on.

I did not feel like she understood me or that she really cared. I pondered, “What was missing from that conversation?”

Stephen R. Covey said, “Seek to Understand before you seek to be Understood.” I didn’t feel understood by my friend. I wondered if I treated others like that too. Did I allow my children to feel understood?

My study began with this question: what was understanding?

The scriptures often associate understanding with the heart. Here are some examples:

Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people? (Mosiah 12:27)
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? (Job 38:36)
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (John 12:40)

And heart is also associated with love. My conclusion: Others feel love when they feel understood. When they feel understood they trust you. When they trust you they will share more with us and possibly listen to our advice.

How can we help them feel understood?

First we have to get them to talk, this can be done in an interview style.

Instead of asking, “How was your day?” where they can answer in a one word answer, say, “Tell me about…” something specific, so they have to answer in more words.
Pay attention to “sign posts” - Topic words that will lead you to another question related to what they are saying.
- Keep them talking.
- You are also looking for clues from their subconscious mind (tone, body language and words) to guide the conversation.
- Be present - no distractions.
Remember to add brief inserts while they are talking. Words like, “Oh,” “wow,” “I see…”
- These show you are paying attention
- Encourages them to keep talking and
- Allows you to listen for more sign posts
Remember "the pause" - say nothing when they stop talking, just look interested. This causes a slight discomfort and they will start talking again.
- This is your greatest ally - they answer the questions that you didn’t know to ask; they tell you things beyond what you are asking about.
- The child will feel uncomfortable and start talking again and reveals more about their thoughts and feelings.
- This is where the trust begins, they begin to feel understood when you listen.
Recognize the Clues
- The goal is to help them feel understood
- This is a good place for questions that bring in their feelings and lead them to find their own answers, feel the spirit, and/or know the next step.
- Acknowledge their best quality. (the connector)
- This is a review, where you show them you are “getting it.”
- “I can see that you (fill in with their effective qualities)”

When we understand our children they trust us more and we both feel loved. God showed us love by understanding us.

My conclusion: Do whatever it takes to make others, especially my children, feel understood.

When your children feel understood they trust you and when they trust you, they open up more and often listen to counsel.

The post Love Without Understanding is Dead appeared first on Called to Learn.

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Richard came to my door with a smile and an envelop. He exclaimed, "We're having a celebration! I have designed and created a statue that we are erecting next to Lori's headstone. We will unveil it at our celebration."

Richard's wife, had died one year earlier and he worked at a place that designed and made bronze statues. "I would love it if your family could come," he said as he handed me an invitation.

Richard and I were good friends though he was much older than I, we shared a great thirst for understanding the Hebrew culture and language.

"It will be an Ebenezer!" Then with a smile "I'm raising an Ebenezer."

I wrinkled my brow, another Hebrew word I recognized, but couldn't define. "An Ebenezer?" I asked.

He smiled, "Yes, it is a Hebrew term meaning "stone of help." Samuel erected a stone monument to remind the Israelites how God helped them. I want to make a monument to honor Lori and to remember God's help in our lives." Richard's love and conviction for God and Christ always left me amazed, he knewfrom where his help came.

"Do you have a minute?" he asked, "I could tell you more." We walked to my backyard and sat down on the chairs as my children played on the swing set.

Richard began, "The Old Testament tells the story of a time when the Philistines declared war on the Israelites and their large armies were advancing toward Jerusalem. The Israelites knew they were in trouble and would be destroy without help. They went to the prophet, Samuel and pleaded with him to ask the Lord to save their lives. Samuel prayed and the Lord intervened, the outnumbered Israelites miraculously won over the Philistines."

"God intervened powerfully for them, didn't he?" I observed.

"Yes, he often did, Richard agreed, "but this time was a little different because while the Israelites celebrated their victory, Samuel pondered. He wondered how he could help them remember to turn to God instead of their idols and their own strength." Richard had been watching the children as he told me the story, but now he looked directly in my eyes. "Samuel erected a stone monument and gathered them all together and declared, pointing to the monument," Richard's voice deepened, "'Hitherto has the Lord helped us' and named the monument, Ebenezer or 'Stone of Help'. Samuel invited them to remember from where their help came and he promised that if they remembered they would always have His help and protection."

Richard wasn't just telling me a story, I felt he was sharing his testimony. "This statue you designed is not only about your wife, it is about showing the world your belief and love for God, am I right?"

Richard's eyes glistened, "Yes, that's the true definition of an Ebenezer - a monument to recognize and remember God's hand in all things. Speaking of definitions, I know you love words and etymology. Would you like to hear more definitions of the word 'ezer'?

"You know I would." I said. I have a habit of bringing a notepad and a pen with me everywhere I go and had pulled it out. As I wrote down the word, Richard unfolded its meaning.

"The Hebrew word 'ezer', or help, is used three different ways in the Old Testament. The first describes God when he helps the Israelites, like in the story of Samuel. The second is used to describe other nations when they strengthen or stand with the Israelites in their time of need." Richard paused to let me finish writing. He continued, "But did you know it is a description of Eve when she was given to Adam?"

Confused and very curious to know more, I glanced over at my children to make sure they were still playing nicely and in hopes they wouldn't interrupt, "No, how?" I begged, "Tell me more."

He chuckled, he was in his element. He reminded me of my father when he would say, "I've gotcha where I wantcha, now I'm gonna teacha."

"Following the creation of Adam," Richard explained, "YaHWeH or Christ said, 'I will make him an ezer kenegedo [or help meet] for him'. (Genesis 2:18) Ezer kenegedo literally means 'a helper like his opposite' today we would say, 'his other half'." Again, he paused. I thought of the implications of Eve being called an ezer and said, "Just as Christ stands with Israel as 'The Helper of Israel' so is Eve stand with Adam as 'The Helper,' am I understanding that correctly?"

"Yes, you are."

"Whoa, that sheds new light on their relationship." I was beginning to "see" that I had a blurred vision of them before.

Richard continued, "Can you imagine Adam and Eve standing side by side celebrating their opportunity to go to earth together? It made them stronger in the war against Satan." he was on a roll, "We are following in their footsteps as couples. When we help God, by remembering who we are, God helps us."

Our conversation ended there with one of my boys getting tangled in the swing.

That night I wrote in my journal and pondered on how I could help my sons and daughter remember who they are and instill in them the joy I felt at that moment of being on the Lord's side, fighting at the side of my husband for God.

The answer to this piercing question came from another conversation I had with Richard. It was November and were studying the life of the Pilgrims. "I am a direct descendent of William Bradford." I told him proudly.

"Then we are cousins, because I am too." My heart soared! I had always known we had a connection, now we had a family connection!

"I've been to the obelisk of William Bradford at the top of the beautiful Burial Hill on School Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts."

"You have? Tell me about it!", I insisted.

Referring back to our previous conversation he said, "it is also an Ebenezer."

I think you get the picture, he was a master at creating curiosity. "Don't stop there." I again begged.

"In 1835 the relatives of William Bradford, erected an eight and half foot granite monument in his honor. You know he was the Pilgrim's governor of Plymouth for 30 years. But did you also know he knew Hebrew?"

"No!"

"Yep, that's probably where we get our insatiable thirst for understanding Hebrew words. We really are related." He winked at me, just like my father would when he was trying to be funny. "William learned the Hebrew language to help him understand the Old Testament better. He also had other religious texts he read. He knew that to be a father, a leader, and teacher he needed the Lord's help."

"How is his obelisk an Ebenezer?" I asked.

"At the top of his memorial is written in Hebrew, "Jehovah is Our Help." An Ebenezer is a monument to remember God and Christ. His descendants, our cousins, must have known that William would have never erected a monument without it being in honor of his Helper, Jehovah, The Creator of the world. Oh, speaking of the Pilgrims reminds me of a quotation I read about providence and being content no matter what is going on around you. The Pilgrims were perfect examples of this. It is from the book I found in the library called Thanksgiving - A Time to Remember." He reached into his bag and pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper and handed it to me.

It read:

"Being grateful is a choice. It's not a feeling dependent on our circumstances as we clearly see in the Pilgrims lives. They believed that God was in control - 'Providence' they called it. They responded to the circumstances of their lives with a perspective that said, 'God has allowed this for our good.'…

"Thank you," I told Richard, "What a perfect way to describe the Pilgrims and a great example to follow."

Later I put a copy of his Providence quotation in our devotional book, so we could work on memorizing it.

After the unveiling of their angel Ebenezer and the celebration, our family discussed how Samuel's monument helped the Israelites and how our great…great grandfather William Bradford's example helped the Pilgrims. Soon our children were talking about ways we could "raise an Ebenezer" to remember God's help in our lives as well. Richard proposed, one evening while he was visiting our family, that we find smooth stones and have the word 'remember' carved into them. "That way you can have your own individual ones and if you pile them together as an ancient alter, it can be one Ebenezer for the family," he said enthusiastically. "Plus I could help by doing the carvings for you."

As we left each child showed enthusiasm for our new project. The next day we went to the mountain and chose our smooth stones and together we gave them to Richard.

Years later we still have our stones as a reminder of where our help comes from and we have memorized the quotation about Providence and have many well-cherished memories of Richard who passed away shortly after he carved our stones. The angel statue with her outstretched hands is a true depiction of both Richard and Lori, messengers of Christ, with a life-changing message of love and friendship. Thank you for sharing your life, your stories, your testimony with us.

We raise our Ebenezer and celebrate when we remember Christ's help in our lives. To help us remember we say these words, "I know where my help comes from. My help comes from the Lord, my Rock, my Ezer, my Savior, Jesus Christ."

References

This is based on a true story. The exact words of the dialogue and the order of how things happened may have been different than is written. Richard Erickson was an extraordinary friend and mentor. I want to be a better friend because of his example and the example of those he thought of as heroes.
For a complete list of 'ezer' used the scriptures see https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=h5828
For the definition of helpmeet see http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/articles_helpmeet.html
Rainey, Barbara; Thanksgiving - A Time to Remember
Psalm 121 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."
An article on Eve as an "Ezer" in a military sense see https://happiness-seekers.com/2018/04/30/gods-secret-tribute-to-women-a-hebrew-word-that-will-change-the-way-you-see-womanhood/
For more on the origin of the word women and Eve as a 'ezer' see Weyland, Heidi; A Call For Christian Women (article) www.christinasforfamilyfaithandfreedom.com
For more on the obelisk of William Bradford see https://historicaldigression.com/2017/09/ The post Where Does My Help Come From? appeared first on Called to Learn.

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(written by Tresta Neil 2018 for Millennial Instructor, it was not published)

The bees have an unusual family tree. Instead of doubling each generation it follows the Fibonacci sequence, God’s growth pattern often found in nature. It is shown by adding the two end numbers adding the answer to the end and continuing - 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, …

Every beehive has one female queen bee who lays all the eggs. If an egg is fertilized by a male bee, then the egg produces a female worker bee, who doesn’t lay any eggs herself. If an egg is not fertilized it eventually hatches into a male bee, called a drone.

Cosby (represented as the male symbol at the bottom, a circle with an arrow) came from one parent, the queen (represented as the female symbol, a circle with a cross) who had two parents since she came from a fertilized egg. This means Cosby has one parent, but two grandparents.

His grandfather has only one parent, while his grandmother has two, so Cosby has three great grandparents. Are you seeing the Fibonacci sequence?

One of his grandparents is male and therefore has one parent, while the other two are female and have two parents totaling five great-great grandparents. The sequence continues, showing that bees follow God’s growth pattern discovered by Fibonacci.

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Written by Tresta Neil as she recalled her experiences with Richard Erickson.

Richard Erickson “raised an Ebenezer”, a Stone of Help, for his wife on 30 June 2007 at the Provo City Cemetery. Family and friends gathered at the grave site and shared fond memories and stories of Lori Erickson. This day marked her one year anniversary of her graduation from mortality.

Richard got the idea from Robert Robinson’s 1757, classic hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The hymn invites is to remember and be grateful for all God has done for us. One phrase reads, “Here I raise my Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I’ve come.”

Richard, a student and teacher of the Old Testament and a wordsmith, loved the idea of “raising an Ebenezer” for his wife. He recalled the story of Adam and Eve when Eve was called Adam’s “helpmeet” He told us about how the word “ezer” in Hebrew means “help” and the word meet translated into Hebrew is k’enegdo, meaning “fit for”, or “opposite.” Eve was not designed to be exactly like Adam, she was designed to be his mirror image or opposite, possessing the other half of the qualities, responsibilities and attributes he needed. Adam and Eve were complete equals together, “Just as my wife and I are. I am not complete without her. Today, I will raise an “Ebenezer” for my “ezer k’enegdo”.”

The term Ebenezer means “stone of help.” Richard recalls the story of when the ancient Israelites were feeling God had abandoned them. Samuel, the prophet told them to stop worshiping idols and to serve God only. They set a time for everyone to gather and renew their vows to God. At the same time their enemies also gathered to attack them. The Israelites were outnumbered and fearful. They pleaded with Samuel to pray to God for help. God answered their prayers by confusing the Philistines to the point that the Israelites were able to chase them out of their land. Samuel erected a large stone to celebrate that victory. He named it “Ebenezer” or “stone of help” as a memorial for all of Israel to remember God helped us. (see 1 Samuel 17:12)

Richard reminded us of the word “remember” and how often it is spoken of by God in the scriptures. He wanted us to remember his helpmeet and the good she had done in the world. But he also wanted us to remember our Savior and the help he has given us, he stated, “When we remember how God has helped us in the past we have hope he will help us in our future.”

The Ebenezer for Lori was erected in 2007. That same Ebenezer was remembered again in 2011 when Richard Erickson died. He had raised his own Ebenezer by designing and installing his wife’s headstone.

Richard ended the memorial with, “When we remember our own spiritual experiences and how they have guided us, we are raising our own Ebenezer one spiritual stone at a time.”

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The Story of the Salt Lake Temple Foundation

Sandstone, adobe or find best stone?

In October of 1852 General Conference, Heber C. Kimball discussed what types of materials they could use to build the temple. They could build it of sandstone, of adobe, or of “the best stone we can find in these mountains” like the “splendid stone” in Sanpete county. The congregation unanimously voted that “we build a temple of the best materials that can be furnished in the mountains of North America.” (1)

Place for a Temple

Brigham Young had marked the temple spot just three days after entering the valley. As h walked the hills he stopped between the two forks of City Creek and struck the ground with his cane and said, “Here we will build the temple of our God.” Wilford Woodruff placed a stake in the ground to mark the spot (2) which is currently the middle of the 10 acre Temple Square.

Time to Build

In December 1847, an official letter from the twelve apostles went out asking the Saints to bring precious metals and other materials “for the time had come to build the Lord’s house upon the tops of the mountains.” (3)

Digging Hole for Foundation

In 1852, construction began with digging a 20’ wide, 16’ deep trench for the temple. It took 1 1/2 years to dig through almost solid gravel one shovel full at a time.(4)

Sandstone Wall

While they waited for rock to be found many men used firestone, a fire resistant sandstone, from the hills above what is now Red Butte Garden (5) and adobe to build a 14’ wall around the temple block. This wall provided protection for the construction site.

Granite Found

In the mid 1850’s a large deposit of light, grey granite was discovered in Little Cottonwood Canyon, twenty miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Granite is the signature rock of the continents and the foundation rock of the planet. Mercury, Venus and Mars are all covered with basalt, like our ocean floor. (6) Only Earth has this beautiful rock of feldspar and quartz crystal in abundance. Granite is hard and tough and often used as a construction stone because of its high compressive strength. It’s a fitting rock for the foundation and main structure of the temple.

Hauling the Stone

Men from all over the world, like Rudolf Wolfley from Switzerland (7), spent many hours a day at the quarry hammering spikes into the tough granite to make one 2x3x5’ block. Only one block could be carried at a time. It sometimes took four days to haul each load from the quarry to the temple site. (8) Annie Wells Cannon “remember[ed] the sight of the great stones … being hauled along the streets by two yoke of oxen and we would all stand for them to pass with a feeling of awe and reverence.” (9) Many wagons broke down under the weight, so the work progressed very slowly. (10)

Hauling the Stone

Cornerstone Ceremony

At the cornerstone celebration, on April 6th, 1853, the 23rd anniversary of the Church’s organization. The First Presidency and the Patriarch to the Church laid the southeast cornerstone of the temple’s foundation, which he proclaimed the proper corner for “the chief cornerstone.” (11) President Young spoke, explaining that the temple had to be built in order that the Lord “may have a place where he can lay his head.”(12) He also said, “the work we’ve performed on [this temple] will long be remembered by this people.” (13)

Johnson’s Army

Four years later, on July 24, 1857 at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the entrance into the valley, the Saints received news that the US army was approaching Utah. Brigham Young had the foundation covered as a precaution. When the army arrived and asked to see inside the stone fence they were surprised to find a freshly plowed field; no evidence of construction. The army marched on through, but because of the “uneasy truce” (14) the foundation remained covered while the army remained in Utah. During this time the architects continued to work on the design and size of each stone. The American Civil War broke out in 1860, and Johnson’s army was called back. As soon as they left, Brigham Young had the Saints begin the work of uncovering the foundation.

Crack in the Foundation

The burying of the foundation proved to be a great blessing, for when they uncovered it, large cracks were discovered in the foundation walls. Brigham Young sat down on a foundation stone and said, "I will not move from this spot until I know what to do.”(15) Moments later,

President Young motioned for Archibald Gardner, the premier saw and grist mill builder in the valley to come to him. “Bishop, sit down,” he said, and he told him of his perplexing problem. Together they went carefully over the matter in hand. They examined the foundation, the materials, the manner in which it had been put together. … [Archibald then said,] “The trouble has arisen through the use of too much mortar. The resultant settling has caused walls to crack. It will be necessary for you to tear out the entire foundation and start over again. This time instead of using mortar, have each and all of the stones in the entire building cut to exact measurement and place stone upon stone with precise fittings. This will prevent cracking, settling or spreading in any way.”(16)

On Jan 1, 1862 Brigham Young announced that the inadequate foundation would be removed and replaced, stating, “I want to see the temple built in a manner that it will endure through the Millennium.” (17)

Temple Growth

It was difficult removing the blocks and replacing them with perfectly fit together stones without mortar. It took three years to put just one layer of these stone around the temple. Not until 1867, 14 years after the original cornerstones had been laid, were the walls of the temple visible above the ground. The walls of the Salt Lake Temple are nine feet thick at the base and six feet thick at the top.

Railroad - Work Sped Up

Brigham Young was concerned about the speed of the project and sought the Lord’s help. He was inspired to ask the men that were building the temple to work on completing the railroad. They built the railroad next to the quarry. When completed, the train took the stone blocks to the temple site in about an hour. (18) Brigham was pleased with the rate of the progress.

Symbols Chiseled in the Stone

Near the temple grounds the stones were shaped into the exact shapes for the wall and oval windows.

Symbols of the planets, stars, the sun, earth and the moon were carefully carved into the blocks of granite. Orson Pratt, a competent astronomer, built an observatory at the temple block to accurately document the phases of the moon. Each of the six hundred eighty-eight steps for the four circular staircases in the corner towers were carved and polished from the same granite.

Elder Parley P. Pratt’s poem, “The Morning Breaks, the Shadows Flee” is found in the cloud stones. (19)

The morning breaks; the shadows flee;

Lo, Zion's standard is unfurled!

The dawning of a brighter day,

Majestic rises on the world.

The clouds of error disappear

before the rays of truth divine;

The glory bursting from afar

Wide o'er the nations soon will shine. (20)

The Big Dipper on the west side literally points to the north star, representing, “The lost may find themselves by the Priesthood.” (21) The temple and the priesthood literally points us back to Christ just as the big dipper points to the north star. (22)

The three east, taller towers represent the Melchizedek Priesthood and the west lower tower the Aaronic Priesthood. (23)

Brigham Dies

President Brigham Young put his whole soul into the building of the temple and was unable to see if finished. At the time of his death in 1877, the temple walls were only twenty feet high, just above the level of the first floor. It was twenty four years into the project and most of the construction was yet to be accomplished.

Capstone Ceremony

Finally, fifteen years later, on April 6, 1892, the temple was complete. Over 40,000 Saints came to the capstone ceremony. The new prophet, President Wilford Woodruff directed the laying of the last granite stone, the capstone of the temple. The capstone is a perfect, hollow, sphere on which Moroni stands. At exactly high noon the prophet pressed an electric switch to lower the capstone. He then led the saints in the glorious hosanna shout. The capstone is a record stone, a time capsule, containing music, books, scriptures and photographs.

The Story Continues

Brigham Young was right, “the work performed on [the temple] will long be remembered.” (24) Saints continue to compare the building of the foundation to Christ’s parable of the two foundations. They gain courage to face their own trials. “the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (25)

Temple Dedication

Exactly one year later, on April 6, 1893, the Salt Lake City Temple’s interior was finished and ready to be dedicated. It was exactly 40 years, to the date, of the laying of the first cornerstone. Just as the temple was built with granite, the foundation rock of this planet so they built their lives on the firm foundation of the Savior, “The Rock of our Salvation.” The Saints hearts were filled with joy. The toil, the sacrifice, the hardships they endured for forty years was crowned with a glorious triumph that God had accepted their sacrifice and their temple as His home. Our hearts still fill with awe when we think of the 40 years it took to build the temple to the 40 year the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and are amazed at how the temple is still standing and used for righteous purposes.

Bibliography

[1] Heber C. Kimball, in Journal of Discourses (London: Latter-day Saints’ Book Depot, 1854), 1:160, 162.

[2] Matthias F. Cowley, Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors(Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1964), 619–20; B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, 6 vols.

[3] James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965), 1:333.

[4] http://emp.byui.edu/PyperL/New%20EM%20Lessons/EM_8.htm

[5] https://www.templesquare.com/blog/interesting-facts-you-didnt-know-about-the-salt-lake-temple/

[6] http://www.mcmstone.com/a-geology-lesson-on-granite/

[7] - life history of Rudolf Wolfley https://tedandrosecazier.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/life-story-of-rudolph-wolfley-pg-1-1.pdf?fref=gc&dti=1860935120809328 and https://tedandrosecazier.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/life-story-of-rudolph-wolfley-pg-2-1.pdf?fref=gc&dti=1860935120809328

[8] http://emp.byui.edu/PyperL/New%20EM%20Lessons/EM_8.htm

[9] https://www.lds.org/liahona/1993/11/every-window-every-spire-speaks-of-the-things-of-god?lang=eng

[10] http://emp.byui.edu/PyperL/New%20EM%20Lessons/EM_8.htm

[11] The office of Patriarch to the Church was included among the General Authorities until 1978. See Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism (New York: Macmillan, 1992), 3:1065–66.

[12] Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 2:33; James H. Anderson, “The Salt Lake Temple,” Contributor, April 1893, 252–59.

[13] (Journal of Discourses 1:132)

[14] https://www.lds.org/liahona/1993/11/every-window-every-spire-speaks-of-the-things-of-god?lang=eng

[15] http://emp.byui.edu/PyperL/New%20EM%20Lessons/EM_8.htm

[16] https://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/05/news-of-the-church?lang=eng “That is my revelation” and can also be found at http://www.ldshistoryblog.com/Utah.pdf

“Life of Archibald Gardner”, 2nd Edition, by Delila Gardner Hughes, page 133, Alpine Publishing, October 1939. https://tedandrosecazier.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/life-story-of-rudolph-wolfley-pg-2-1.pdf?fref=gc&dti=1860935120809328

[17] Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 10:254; see also Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, 6:71.

[18] http://emp.byui.edu/PyperL/New%20EM%20Lessons/EM_8.htm

[19] https://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/08/a-temple-to-exalt?lang=eng

[20] http://mldb.byu.edu/pppratt2.htm

[21] (Deseret News, 17 August 1854)

[22] http://scottwoodward.org/symbolism_saltlaketemple.html

[23] http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1488&context=jbms

[24] Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 2:33; James H. Anderson, “The Salt Lake Temple,” Contributor, April 1893, 252–59.

[25] A Proclamation to the World, The Family https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng&old=true

highly recommended:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/08/a-temple-to-exalt?lang=eng

https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/salt-lake-city/4-design-construction-and-role-salt-lake-temple#_edn6

http://emp.byui.edu/PyperL/New%20EM%20Lessons/EM_8.htm

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5 things that UP Level Your Happiness in 10 minutes

Appreciate what is going right in your life right NOW

Tell someone, share what’s been going right or what you’ve learning

Make an entry in your Micro-journal

Write down 1 -3 fortunate things that happened to you or 1 – 3 ways you were recipient of deliberate kindness or 1 – 3 times you gave deliberate kindness

Identify your Limiting Beliefs

What thoughts are keeping you from reaching your goals? Rewrite them, write the truth.

Here is a statement I use,”I use to believe … now I know…and because I know …(I have increase or it will help my children ) Repetition matters

Change “I can’t” to “I’m getting better and better”

Act on Faith by saying I’m adventurous, I can learn, I am eternally curious! I have Unlimited potential.

Be Creative (deliberate)

Visualize, take time to reflect. In creating a video we must “see” the whole picture before it is shot, we write out a storyboard and scripts. Life can be just like this. Make your life a work of art – designed, crafted and created

Another way to be creative is to create and use a joy list / Opportunities

Make a contribution (how will you help others)

Just as a boat is not created for the harbor, we are not created to stay stagnate, Sail on! Take calculated risks and reap tremendous rewards

What will you do today to make a difference/ leave a legacy?

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Discover the Branches of Language on the Theology Tree

Sounds

What method do we use to write down our ideas? (symbols called numbers and letters)
How many symbols do we have in the English language? (26)
How many sounds do we have in the English language? (70)
Write out some of the sounds you know. (th, sh, ough, etc.)
You are an orthographist. What is Orthography?
Write down the definition of orthography (to draw or write symbols for sounds)
The Branches of Sounds (orthography) are phonetics, spelling, comprehension, elocution, and penmanship Words
Say the word “screwedun” ask them if they know the meaning.
What is wrong with that word? (mixed up, should read “unscrewed”)
Say the word “parable” emphasizing the wrong syllable.
What is wrong with that word? (the syllable or emphasis is in the wrong place)
How do we distinguish words from other words? (with a space between)
Look up and share some cool words from the dictionary.
You are an etymologist. What is Etymology? (the origin of words)
Write out the definition in your notebook.
The Branches of Words (etymology) are word analysis and vocabulary expansion. Phrases
“Men are that they may have joy” is a statement and is also called a phrase.
Write and share a short call to action or informative statement.
You created a phrase. What is a phrase? Look it up.
Write out your definition in your notebook.
Phrases are an important part of learning the scriptures.
“”Come Follow Me” a simple phrase yet truth sublime effulgent rays.” Hymn 116
Share some phrases you know or make up some.
Record what you have learned about phrases.
The Branches of Phrases are prepositional phrases, types of phrases Sentences
“Goes downtown boy the” Is this the proper order to write a sentence?
Why doesn’t this make sense?
Does it mater the order in which we write words?
Find and read a sentence from the scriptures. Make sure you start with a capital and read till you find a period.
You completed a syntax exercise. What is Syntax? (the construction of sentences)
Write the definition.
“Oh, sweet the joy this sentence brings, “I know that my Redeemer lives.”” Hymn 136
Scramble several sentences see if your family can unscramble them.
The Branches of Sentences (syntax) are parts of speech, sentence analysis, grammar Style
Share several Nursery Rhymes with your children.
Why do we love to hear these verses?
What is your favorite nursery rhyme? Recite it.
You just recited a poem. What is a poem? (look it up in the 1828 Dictionary)
Record the definition in your notebook.
Poetry doesn’t have to rhyme, but it does have a rhythm, read a few poems to discover their rhythm.
The Branches of Style (prosody) are figures of speech, versification, stress, poetry and works of poets. Whole Works
Draw a book about something that happened to them last week. Draw four pictures to tell the whole story.
Write words that go with the pictures and share it with someone
You just created a composition. What is Composition? (the act of forming a whole by placing together different things)
Record what you learned about complete works.
The Branches of Whole Works (composition) are developing ideas, proofreading, art of writing, types of writings Communication
What are some non-verbal indicators?
What does it mean “to understand is better than to be understood”?
What are some do’s and don’t’s in giving a talk in Sacrament meeting?
Record what communication means to you
The Branches of Communication are speaking, listening, elocution, audience and nonverbal communication Draw out your own Language Branch on the Theology Tree and add branches as you’re studying the above branches.

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(Curiosity is Step One on the Key Pattern of Learning)

Create a Wonder Board in your home or list on your phone of all your questions, your children’s questions, questions others have, words you want to understand, what you want to investigate, etc. Write them on colored pieces of paper and put them up on the board. Be creative.
Inquiry Bag of tools - place a magnifying glass, paper and pencil, compass, straightedge, camera, colored pencils, measuring tape, binoculars, etc. in to a bag and take it with you on all your journeys “just in case.”
Label them - let your children know they are curious, thinkers, wonderers, etc. Always tell them why you think that about them. The more they hear it from those in authority the more they are going to believe it. Say things like, “Nice question! That is more evidence that you’re a curious person!”
Play games - review what you learned by saying, “I can only take with me what I learned so I’m taking ____.” Then the next person has to repeat what the first person said and add what he learned. Repeat until everyone has had a turn or go around twice. Make up other memory and review games to help them remember and to get curious about what others have said.
Be secretive - tell some of the children something about the lesson or the theme secretly and then out loud say, “Don’t tell anyone.” This creates great curiosity. Have them guess throughout the learning discussion.
Take the tangents - when your children ask a question that isn’t on topic take the tangent then bring it back. Show them that it is ok to be curious.
Have them come up with more ideas - ask them questions to keep them thinking, “What else . . . what if that doesn’t work . . . and after that?” This teaches them to evaluate their ideas. Help them find interest in their ideas.
Have them write about an interesting idea in an interesting way so they become interested in the idea and find ways to study it leading to full-fledged curiosity.
Increase their responsibility - have them involved in their own learning, reviews, assessments, etc. This also creates more independence. Curiosity is confident independence.
Don’t answer their questions directly, answer with a question to get them thinking. Let them know their questions are important and that searching for the answers themselves will bring greater satisfaction and better recall.
Listen to them - hear what they are saying, look them in the eyes and let them know what they matters. Give them a safe environment to ask questions.
If you don’t know the answer, tell them you don’t know. Ask them to help, “Where can we go to search for the answer together?”
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“You won’t want to be near that tree in a few hours.”

I believed Grandpa Webb knew everything about the outdoors. “Why not?” I looked at the tree he was pointing at and couldn’t see anything, at first. “Oh, I see a hive, didn’t you tell me bees were harmless?”

“Yes, Tessa, bees are usually harmless, but those are wasps and they are not very friendly. They are the opposite of bees.”

We were on an early morning walk together at his ranch, he named, “Dos Piños.” It had mostly small trails through many juniper trees.

“What did you mean by they are opposite?” I asked.

“Wasps make their nest out of paper from their spit. Bees make strong wax homes. Wasps enter their nests from underneath and bees from the side. Bees make their honey comb pointing upwards and wasps nests point down. Bees only have one stinger that they give their life to use and wasps sting multiple times. Wasps eat bugs like aphids and rotten food while bees eat neater from plants. ”

“That is a lot of opposites,” I gasped.

“Yeah, and it also applies to the structure of their homes. The wasps’ nest hang downward, off tree limbs or roofs and rely only on the geometry of the hexagon to provide structure and order. While bees build up using the same geometry by alternating hexagonal tiers almost like wax crystals.”

“Cool, and crystal grow up and outward too.” I chimed in.

“Tessa, you have such a curious mind.” In his storytelling voice he said, “Let me tell you how it happened.”

I could hardly wait, I loved grandpa’s stories. “Yippee, more Webb Wisdom,” I teased him. This is the name we cousins gave grandpa’s stories. Grandpa smiled at me then put out his arms as if to give a speech to a thousand people.

“In the beginning,” Grandpa always began his stories with opening words of the Bible. I smiled. “God gave the bees their assignment and duties and asked them to come up with the design for their honey containers.

Beecher began the conversation, “Let’s try a simple squiggly shape.” They all considered this idea and soon ruled it out.

“This shape would createidle bees,” Cosbee explained, “each bee would have to wait to see what the previous shape is before he could start making his shape to fit the other random shapes.”

“Oh, we don’t want to be standing around, we want to be busy bees. It will have to be equal sized shape that we all know how to build.”

Beeanca, the littlest bee, said, “We should use hexagons,” but no-one heard her.

Cosbee remembered the area of a circle was larger than any other shape and reminded the group, “Let’s try circles, they would hold the most honey.”

I interrupted, “I learned that when we made homemade pizza. Round pizza holds more toppings than a square one.”

“Good comparison.”

Grandpa continued. Several bees gathered circle shaped seeds and put them in rows. What they saw was shocking!

Grandpa made a shocking face and I made one too.

They recognized the empty space between the circles would remain empty or have to be filled in with wax. “Nope, this will not do. This would be wasteful and we want to be efficient bees. We need a shape that takes the least amount of wax.” It would take eight ounces of honey to produce one ounce of wax.

“What does ‘tessellate seamlessly’ mean, grandpa?” I asked. It was a cool word and it was really close to my name, “Tessa and Tessa-late.”

“It means a shape that covers a surface by a repeated use of a single shape or several different shapes, without gaps or overlapping. Remember the tiles on your bathroom floor, they are octagons and squares, they cover the whole surface seamlessly or without holes.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“The bees wanted to use ONE shape that would tesselate.”

“Oh, that would be hard… Wait, the kitchen floor has squares.”

Grandpa raised his eyebrows, “that’s exactly what the bees thought.”

“Squares, triangle and hexagons tessellate seamlessly.” Cosbee remembered.

“Hexagons!” Beeanca said at the same time someone else said, “Squares would be easy and we could make many at the same time.”

“True…” they said as they entertained the idea. “This would solve the problem of idleness and wastefulness,” Beebe observed.

“Rule out squares,” a voice from the back declared, “it could easily be pushed over.”

I didn’t want to interrupt grandpa again, but I agreed with the bees. When we made shapes using straws and marshmallows, the squares easily collapsed.

“True, this would make for a weak home and we want a reliable home for our baby bees,” said Cosbee. Little Beeanca, in her strongest voice tried again, “We should use hexa—”

“Equilateral Triangles are a strong shape.” said Bambee. Many had heard about the strength of triangles during the creation. “Let’s try it.” Several bees brought in tiny twigs and lined them up in triangles. Everyone observed the design. It met all the criteria.

Beeanca made her way to the front and said, “The hexagon is the best shape.”

Cosbee looked down at her, “Why do you think it is better than the triangle, Beeanca?”

She beamed, “There is a hexagon shape within the triangles. Can you see it? God made water crystals and snowflakes using the hexagon shape and water is super important to this earth.

Cosbee looked at the triangles and then around at the whole group and said, “Hexagons may be our best choice.”

“I agree” said Beebe, “Plus, it will take less wax and hold more honey than the triangle and still be reliable.”

“And they tessellate in alternating rows, which makes it stronger,” said Bobbee.

“Sweet, let’s try it with wax,” said Beejay.

A few of them ate honey until wax oozed from their bodies. They chewed it until it became soft and began molding it into hexagonal shapes.

Some started making oblong hexagons. “Wait, what type of hexagon shall we make?”

Cosbee turned to Beeanca, “What do you think?”

“It shouldn’t be just any hexagon, but the perfect jewelers’ version - a precise, equal length, perfect hexagon, just like a snowflake,” she answered excitedly.

“Agreed!” Colbee turned to the group of workers, “Equal on all sides.”

Later God inspected their work, “Well done. The hexagon is efficient, reliable, strong, functional and balanced, an excellent choice.”

Grandpa looked me in the eyes and ended his story with a wink and a smile.

“Let’s head back home. I have a hankering for some of grandma’s honey.” As we pause to turned around Grandpa faced me, “Tessa, you are now a BSE, beehive structure expert.” He bowed as if I were royalty, “and you know why the bees chose the hexagon.”

I laughed and hit him in the arm. “You’re funny, Grandpa.” We continued our walk back home in silence.

Grandpa spoke first, “Tell me which character you are most like?”

“Cosbee.”

“Why?”

“Because I know stuff and like to share it with others, and I don’t listen to what everyone says.”

Grandpa asked, “Who is most like Beeanca?”

This one took me a minute. She actually annoyed me, but she did have the right answers. “I’m not sure, the Holy Ghost?” I answered sheepishly.

“Oh, how?” Grandpa asked.

“She had right answers just like the Holy Ghost does.” I paused. Grandpa didn’t interrupt my thinking. “She kind of reminds me of my little sister, too. She tries to get my attention and I ignore her.”

“Oh, what is God trying to tell you?”

“That I should listen to her more.”

“Cool, I can’t wait to hear the end of that story.” Grandpa winked again. “What else did you learn from the story?”

“I learned a way to solve problems.”

“Whoa, tell me more.”

“In the story the bees worked together to find a solution. They came up with ideas and experimented. I think Beeanca really is like the Holy Ghost, if the bees would have listened to the her at the beginning, they would have came to the solution a lot faster.”

“Wow.” Grandpa said, “Isn’t it great how God can teach us all something different from the same story?” We were almost back home. “What are you going to teach me next time, Tessa?”

I giggled, “Oh, grandpa, that’s silly, I don’t teach you. Race you back to the trailer.” As I took off, I thought I heard him say, “Oh, yes, you do.”

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A Story About Communication And Family Relationships

(written by Tresta Neil for the Millennium Press in 2015)

“You won’t want to be near that tree in a few hours.” Grandpa said.

Grandpa Webb loved the outdoors, there wasn’t anything he didn’t know. We cousins would try to find something he didn’t know about and he would ask, “Oh, you don’t know that? Well, let me tell you.” Then he would proceed to tell an “in the beginning” story. Grandpa’s stories were never boring, they were an adventure all by themselves.

This early, summer morning was no exception. We were on a walk together at his ranch he named, “Dos Piños.” I loved taking walks with him. I believe he had special eyes, because he would point out things I never saw on my own, like flowers just waking up, ants building a tower or the elk across the meadow. I was glad to get away from my brothers and sisters they were all younger and they always annoyed me. I knew family was important, but I enjoyed being away from them far more than being with them.

Grandpa pointed to a wasp nest hanging off a tree limb. The wasps had not woken up, it was still quiet.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Wasps are not very friendly. They are the opposite of bees. Sta, do you remember I owned bees when we lived in Colorado, right?” Sta was not my real name, it was a name given to me by my cousin who couldn’t say my whole name, so he said only the last syllable - it stuck.

“Yeah, I remember. What do you mean by opposite?” I asked.

“Wasps make their nest out of paper from their spit. Bees make strong wax homes. Wasps enter their nests from underneath and bees from the side. Bees make their honey comb pointing upwards and wasps nests point down. Bees use their stinger to protect, they only have one stinger that they give their life to use. The wasps sting multiple times.”

“That is a lot of opposites. This reminds me of the difference between Christ and Satan.” We had just learned about the three voices in our heads in Sunday School, God’s, Satan’s and my own curiosity.

“Yeah, and it also applies to their homes. The wasps’ nest rely only on the geometry of the hexagon to provide structure and order. While bee hives use this same geometry by in alternating hexagonal tiers like a wax crystal to give it extra strength.”

“I remember the point about your beeswax story. New wax is white and clean and over time it becomes dark, stained and impure just like we do when we sin. Heat purifies the wax, but the only way to make it white again is to put it in the sun light. We need the light of the atonement to become pure and white again.”

Grandpa almost skipped the next few steps. He was silent for a moment and then said, “Good. I’m happy you remember the POINT. The lessons learned and its application matters more than the details of the story. God will hold us accountable for the lessons we learn and implement not the detail of the stories we know.”

“True Grandpa, but the stories help me remember the point.” I smiled up at him and added, “I also remember how much honey a bee makes in her lifetime. It is still is crazy to me. Only 1/12th of a teaspoon. I think about this whenever I feel small or I don’t think I’m doing very much. I remember the bees and know that all of my work will be added with other people’s work - what I do really does matter.”

“Sta, you bring me great joy when you remember these lessons. You have a good memory and if you implement them in your daily life, God will guide you your whole life.” Grandpa put his arm around me and gave me a side squeeze. “Do you know why the bee chose the hexagon shape?”

“No, Why did they choose that shape? Why is it special?” I asked.

“Sta, I love your curiosity.” Then in his storytelling voice, said, “Let me tell you how it happened.”

Oooh, I could hardly wait, I loved grandpa’s stories. They helped my imagination and often made me think. The best thing about them was that I could remember them forever. “Oh, another Webb Wisdom.”

Grandpa smiled. This is the name we cousins gave grandpa’s stories. We would often compared stories late at night during family reunions. They were rarely the same and this made us feel special and unique.

“In the beginning,” Grandpa always began his stories with the same words. “God gave the bees their mission and told them how to fulfill it, but he asked them to come up with a design to hold the honey.

The largest bee began the conversation, “Let’s try random shapes, with no equal sides, just a squiggle.” They all considered this idea and soon ruled it out.

Beeanca, the littlest bee, said, “I think we should use hexagons,” but no-one heard her.

“This shape would create idle bees,” The bee with the blackest stripes made it clear for everyone to understand, “because each bee would have to wait for its turn to create a random shape to fit the other random shapes.”

“Oh, we don’t want to be standing around, we have too much to do. It will have to be equal sized shape that we all know how to build.”

Cosbee remembered the area of a circle was larger than any other shape. He reminded the group, “Let’s try circles, they would hold the most honey.”

I interrupted, “I learned that when we made homemade pizza. Round pizza hold more toppings than square pizza’s.” I also remembered how fun it was to make them with my siblings.

“What a great comparison.” Grandpa continued.

Some of the bees gathered circle shaped flowers and put them in rows.

“Nope, this will not do. This would not be efficient and we want to efficient bees.” They recognized the empty space between the circles would be waisted or have to be filled in with more wax. They all agreed.

“We need to find a shape that takes the least amount of wax.” The bees knew that they needed to make the least total perimeter, because it would take an intake of eight ounces of honey to produce one ounce of wax.

“We need a shape that tessellates seamlessly,” Cosbee said.

“What does ‘tessellate seamlessly’ mean, grandpa?” I asked.

“Yeah, I remember.”

“The bees wanted to use ONE shape that would tesselate.”

“Oh, that would be hard… Wait, the kitchen floor has squares.”

Grandpa raised his eye brows, “that’s exactly what the bees thought.” He smiled and continued.

“Squares, triangle or hexagons tesselate.” Cosbee declared.

“Hexagons!” Beeanca said at the same time someone else said.

“Squares would be easy and we could all make this shape at the same time.”

“True…” they said as they entertained the idea. This would solve the problem of idleness and it would be an efficient use of wax.

“Rule out squares,” a voice from the back declared, “it is a shape that falls in on itself. It is not stable enough.”

I didn’t want to interrupt grandpa again, but I remembered stacking blocks exactly on top of each other. I agreed with the bees, squares were not steady, they could easily be pushed over. Also, when we made structures using straws and marshmallows, square easily collapsed.

Little Beeanca tried again, “We should use hexa—”

“Triangle are a strong shape.” said Beebee. Many had heard about the strength of triangles during the creation. “Ok, let’s try it.” Several bees brought in tiny twigs and lined them up in triangles. Everyone observed the design.

“It can’t be pushed over like the squares,” one beee observed.

“It would be easy to work on it together at the same time.”

“But, it would take a lot more wax to build,” a bald bee said.

Beeanca made her way to the front and said, “The hexagon is the best shape.”

Cosbee looked down at her, “Yes, it’s starting to look that way, why do you think it is the best, Beeanca?”

She beamed, “There is a hexagon shape within the triangles. It will take less wax and hold more honey.”

Cosbee looked at the triangles and then up at the whole group and said, “I believe she is right, hexagons are our best bet, they will hold more honey than the square or triangle. They also tesselate opposite, making it easier for us to all work together.”

“I agree” many of them said aloud at the same time,

“Let’s try it with wax.”

Some of them ate honey until wax oozed from their bodies. They chewed it until it became soft and began molding it into hexagonal shapes.

Some started making long hexagons. “What type of hexagon shall we make?”

Cosbee turned to Beeanca, “What do you think?”

“It shouldn’t be just any hexagon, but the perfect jewelers’ version - a precise, equal length, perfect hexagon,” she answered excitedly.

“Agreed!” he turned to the group, “all equal sides.”

“Besides this is a job God gave us to do, best do it perfect and the same just as he is.” Beeanca concluded.

Grandpa looked me in the eyes and ended his story with a wink and a smile. The sun was just peaking over the horizon.

“Only perfect hexagons for honey perfection, eh grandpa?”

“You betcha! Let’s head back home. I think grandma may have some honey we can put on our toast when we get back.” We turned around and he said, “There were some side effects to using the hexagon, that the bees didn’t realize until later.” He paused.

“Tell me, what were the side effects, Grandpa?” He loved to pause to get me to be more curious. “What could possibly be bad about hexagons?”

“Wait a minute, I didn’t say bad side effects.”

“You mean there are good side effects?” I asked.

“Sure there are, the bees discovered their hexagonal grid of three-corner, 120-degree joints that minimized labor and maximized interior space also provided great strength. Which was needed when they added the compression weight of the honey.”

“Whoa, that was a mouthful. I think what you said was the bees didn’t know they were also building a strong structure. Right?”

“Yes, you got it, Sta. The bees reached their goal of creating a container that held the most with the least amount of wax. With the hexagon they could hold a lot of honey. Did you know that one and one-half ounces of wax holds four pounds of honey?”

“Whoa, that is success! Go, bees!!” I raised my fist into the air. “Good side-effects are awesome.”

Grandpa stopped and turned to face me, “You, sweet girl, are now a beehive structure expert.” He bowed as if I were royalty. “You now know how bees chose the hexagon.”

I laughed and hit him in the arm. “You’re funny, Grandpa.” We continued our walk back home. “In all seriousness, I did learned a lot more about bees.”

“Good. What values were important to the bees?” Grandpa asked.

“Efficiency, staying busy, working together, not being wasteful… Oh, and increasing strength by using wax, maximum space with little material are some of the values of bees.”

“Since you told me you know the secret behind my stories,” grandpa winked, “tell me, what was the point or moral to this story. Wait, first tell me which character you identified with?”

“I think I was most like Cosbee.”

“Why?”

“Because I know stuff and share it with others. And I like being a leader.” Yep, this was all true, I had never put it into words or even thoughts, but yes, this describe me well. Maybe I could learn to listen like Cosbee too.

Grandpa then asked, “Who do you think is like Beeanca?”

This one took me a minute. I had no idea. She actually annoyed me, but she did have the right answers. “The Holy Ghost?” I said sheepishly.

“Yeah, how?” Grandpa asked.

“She was always talking, trying to get people to listen to her, she had the right answer. All things like the Holy Ghost does.” I paused. Grandpa didn’t interrupt my thinking. “She kind of reminds me of my little sister, too. She often tries to get my attention and I try to ignore her.”

“Oh, what is God trying to tell you?”

I didn’t think the conversation would change to this subject. “I should listen to her more.” I also thought it would make her feel loved and maybe less annoying to me. The other thought I had and didn’t share with grandpa was, if I found a job or something to work on together with my brothers and sisters that we might be able to get along better, just like the bees worked together.

“Cool, I can’t wait to hear the end of that story.” Grandpa winked again. “Ok, what is the point to the story? Or what is your take away?”

“I don’t think this comes from bees directly, but from the way you told your story. I learned a problem solving strategy.”

“Whoa, tell me more.”

“In the story the bees worked together to solve the problems. They came up with solutions and tried them until one worked. Then there was Beeanca who kept trying to give her answer. I think she really is like the Holy Ghost and if we would listen to the Holy Ghost from the beginning we could probably not have to go through so many mistakes.”

“Wow, you got things out of the story I hadn’t thought about. God sure is smart, he can teach us all something different from the same story.”

“It is interesting. Hey, we learned about bees in homeschool last year. May I share one of my favorite lessons?”

“Sure!” Grandpa smiled. We were almost back to the house where grandma would have breakfast ready for us. The sun was fully in the sky now and I knew grandpa would want to get working.

“God created bees with an instinct to go to only one type of flower. This is so that they can carry the right type of pollen to the same type of flower. Otherwise we would have mixed up flowers and fruits. If bees picked up pollen from apple blossoms and dropped them into the female parts of a zucchini blossom, well, it wouldn’t work. Isn’t that amazing? God is smart to make them only go to one type of blossom.”

“Wow, that is amazing, I didn’t know that, but it makes since. Our bees only got nectar from the clover flowers. God is wise! Let’s get inside, see if grandma has that honey I mentioned.”

I was excited to try the honey, but I was more excited to find a project my siblings and I could work on together. “Strange that a story about hexagons could help me love my siblings more.” I thought to myself, “Grandpa sure is good, and he didn’t even know I had a problem. But God knew - he IS wise.” I looked up and whispered, “Thank you!”

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(talk given by Tresta Neil on November 9, 2014)

I was born into a very religious family. They are active members of The Church of Jesus Christ and I’d like to share with you my conversion story!

First and foremost it was my family who taught me the gospel of Christ. Today, I’ll share with you things that happened outside my family.

It all began with a missionary.

When I was 8 years old I sat about half way back in the middle row next to the end. I remember a sister missionary, the first I’d ever known bore her testimony and I knew I wanted to be just like her and go on a mission.
At 14 years old another sister missionary came and did a fireside for us. She had gone to Canada on her mission and I felt the spirit and knew I wanted to be just like her and go on a mission.
At BYUI I lead the perfect life, everything was great, good grade, wonderful roommates, fun callings, member of many groups, etc. Etc. I felt my life was going great and decided that it was too perfect and so I did exactly what we are told from this very pulpit not to do. I prayed for trials. I wanted so much to prove to God that I could handle anything.
I graduated and moved to Ogden a few months later. There I had received the trials I prayed for. I got into the very strenuous nursing program, my professors were not kind, my classes rigorous. Church was foreign and I had a difficult time convincing myself to attend. I was working full time to pay for school and housing. my roommates were unkind and even mean and I moved over ten times in one year. I got to the point where I didn’t feel like my life was worth living. I had failed God and myself. I remember running up a hill and falling under a tree. “Father, I pleaded, I don’t want to live any more, please help me see.” I then heard these words, “You have a work that no other can do.” I finished the statement out loud, “do it so bravely so kindly so well that angels will hasten your story to tell.” I knew I could make it through this and I knew I had to, because no one could do the work God wanted me to. And I also knew God still loved me, I had not failed completely.
I graduated from nursing school and moved to Provo. By this time I was old enough to go on a mission but was now not worthy. Should I give up on that dream, was it worth it? I often asked myself. The answer? Always, “YES!” I wanted to be a missionary mommy! You know the one who knew the scriptures so well that she would quote them when disciplining her children. A mother that was so close to God that everything she did was what He would do if He were here. I wanted to be the perfect wife and mother and in my mind going on a mission was the only way I could achieve that – I could not bare to think of being a mother without first being a missionary. So, I spent a year getting worthy to serve and working, saving everything so I could pay for 100% of my mission.

I believe living in the spirit is like standing on a ball. When you are at the very top, balanced and stable you are in the spirit, in control able to think. When you are tipping off the ball is when you no longer have the spirit, you are concentrating more on not falling than on the beauty given you. You believe Satan’s lies of being unworthy, not good, ugly, etc. Stand back up, know who you are and what you are here to accomplish.

One scripture keeps me going D&C 4:2 If you have to desire you are called to the work. I had the desire to serve God and I knew I was called – I would make it on a mission.

I served a mission in the Netherlands and I was a go getter, I was there for three reasons:
1. to learn as much as I could including memorize scripture,
2. have amazing experiences and
3. learn to be the best mommy ever.
One experience, we were tracking and I felt the spirit so strong about an area. So a few days later we tracked the area, it was hard, no one would answer the doors, we had several slam the door in our face, but I was still happy, I knew we would find someone in this area. Sure enough. There was a door and I could see a guy sitting on the couch, but he didn’t come to the door, I knocked louder, nothing, so I knocked on the window. Finally he came to the door and yelled through the door telling us he couldn’t open the door to come around the back. We ended up teaching him and he was later baptized. God led us to him.
Other missionary experiences.
1. Amanda – “even I can be forgiven”
2. Children – “What happens to our bodies when we die?…Resurrected bodies, can we eat, what happens to the food… tangents are good.

I did become a mommy – it isn’t as easy as I had thought it would be before my mission. And I haven’t raised only Nephi type children. I sometimes tipped on the ball and make mistakes. But there is one thing I know for sure! My children were sent to me not just for me to help them, but for them to teach me and to make me into a different person. I love the plan of God.

Blessings our family has received for having a missionary out:

1 – Etienne- I told him he had to stay with me forever and give me hugs and kisses every day of my life. He said, “I can’t do that, I have to do what Teo is doing and go on a mission.”

2 – Tirzaan- I asked him, “why do I love you?” “Because I’m cute!”, “Sometimes you are not cute, so that is not the reason.” After talking with his big brothers and sisters, he came back with “You love me because I’m a child of God.” “yes, but if that were the only case I would love everyone as much as I love you and I love you more than some others.” He consulted with his big brothers and sisters again and that night he came to me and said, “Mom, you love me because I am your son and Jesus sent me to you so you can love me.” “Yes, Tirzaan, that is exactly right, I love you because you are mine!”

3 – Matteo – relationship to God, read the quotation about his relationship with God.

4 – FHE – we are having FHE much more regularly and enjoying and even look forward to it.

5 – Izaak has been turning back to God. His institute class is changing his perspective and life.

6 – All of our testimonies increased greatly… on and on

I know that this church is the living church of the earth. I know God lives! I know Christ died for me and you so that we may return. I know that we have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, on the earth today. I know that I am a child of God and of Christ and that by always learning more about them I can become like them and achieve my goal of being able to act exactly like they would in every situation.

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5 Homeschooling Truths

(written by Tresta Neil in 2016 for a friends book on homeschooling)

“I think we should homeschool our children.” These are the words I heard my husband say after our fourth child was born.

When I returned home early from my mission to the Netherlands I was told that I would not be able to have children. Thom and I began our marriage prepared to live our lives without children. After several miscarriages, our first child was born. We named him Izaak, the Dutch name for happy, because we were happy for an actual birth. Eleven months later (you can get pregnant while nursing) came our second. Twenty months later came number three. I was beginning to panic. I was still working as a nurse at night and while Thom worked during the day I tried to watch my boys and sleep. I would often wake up to torn up books, painted the couch, mice chasing or egg throwing. My fourth and first girl came twenty-two months later and I began to seriously wonder if motherhood was as wonderful as everyone had said it would be. Honestly, there were many days I wanted out, four children in diapers and too tired to clean or cook, let alone read or visit with friends. Now Thom thinks we should homeschool! Forget it!

Besides all the children and work drama, how could I, who was in remedial reading throughout school and barely graduated high school with a low GPA, teach my children? Plus, what would they do for friends and social life? “Isn’t that what school was all about?” I thought. “Nope, I was NOT going to homeschool my children and have them miss out!”

To appease my husband, I traveled to Utah to attend a homeschool conference where Thomas Jefferson Education was introduced. It seemed to be the best method for many families. Yet, my heart resonated with The Noah Plan created by the Foundation for American Christian Education (F.A.C.E.). The presenter talked about teaching principles, centering all learning on Christ, and the creation of notebooks that become individual textbooks.

This idea stirred up many emotions and questions. “Could all education be centered on Christ, even math?” “Could learning be individual?”

I recalled all the times during school I would be interested in going deeper into a subject and was stopped because it didn’t fit into the curriculum or we had to move on because of time. “Could homeschooling be different?” My professor at college taught me how anatomy and physiology with the knowledge of the restored gospel came alive. “Could my children learn all subjects that way throughout their life?” My reason for serving a mission was to be a great mother who effectively use scriptures in teaching and disciplining my children. Homeschooling could be the vehicle to assist me in achieving that desire. “Oh, Tresta,” I thought, “you’re going to be a homeschooler . . . well, Thom’s going to be happy . . . HELP!”

God was kind and sent me a mentor, LuJean Livingston. She had found The Noah Plan in a hotel drawer while on vacation, she felt it was the answer for Latter-day Saints and began sharing it with everyone including American Heritage School. We would meet together once a month. She opened up the scriptures and showed me how every subject was found in the scriptures. She taught me how to find principles in books, the difference between doctrines and principles, and how my children could come up with their own applications. Her guidance became my life line and the beginning of a wonderful education and experience for my children and for me.

Throughout the twenty plus years of homeschooling I have learned many truths and dispelled many myths. Here are my top five truths:

1. Parents are the best teachers for their children no matter their “schooling”

Throughout High School I believed the lies of my teachers and classmates that I was not smart. After graduating from college, I continued to believe it. In fact, I feared conversations because I might reveal my stupidity. As I learned alongside my children, making my own notebooks and sharing ahas with them, I began to gain confidence in my intelligence and communication. Our love for each other grew stronger every day and nothing can replace the feeling of watching them learn and receive revelation for their own lives.

2. Life’s Challenges are the Lesson

Life is full of challenges and trials from which we get to learn. Our challenges included personality clashes to the point of arguments and everyone complaining at the same time. We started out homeschooling so poor that we used the back side of discarded real estate fliers from Thom’s work for our notebooks. Our seventh child was in and out of the hospital for four years with liver transplant complications and internal bleeding. Two of our sons were in different hospitals at the same time, one with RSV and the other with liver rejection. We have worked through five home births, the loss of our home and other dreams, living in a two- bedroom basement apartment with eight children and major learning disabilities.

Our latest challenge is having Thom at home while he recovers from a virus that attacked his heart leaving it functioning at 25%. Life’s challenges are our homeschool/life lessons, they teach us how to solve real life problems, how to work together and find peace in the storms.

3. Success can be Found in Daily Routines

My son who had a stroke had many physical and learning disabilities. He took a lot longer to learn things than any of my other children. For example, we had to teach him to climb a ladder by doing it with him a few times every day and at first, physically moving him through the process, then talking him through it. Finally, we had him talk himself through it until he was able to do it without thinking about it. This is how he is currently learning to read. When he reviews the sounds of the letters daily he continues to make progress and can read words, but if he skips one day his progress stops and he has to begin again.

Homeschooling is like this, it is successful when we study daily. Consistent learning yields a great education.

4. Creativity Inspires Connection

When we struggled with getting along the learning never happened. One day I was frustrated because no one was listening to the lesson, so I sent them outside to the backyard. I soon joined them and ended up playing in the leaves, creating forts and laughing together. I took a picture of the children in the leaves and put it up on my wall. Weeks later a friend admired the photo and I said, “That was a horrible day!” She said, “I’d love to be a part of your horrible days.” She was right, we had made something beautiful out of a rough day and we returned and completed our assignments happily. When mental learning is not happening, doing something creative inspires connection and prepares the mind.

5. Recording Creates Lasting Memories

Creating notebooks has been the single most joyful thing we have done in our homeschooling experience. These notebooks have become a source of memories, of recalling lessons and for teaching and mentoring others. My son asked for his English reference notebook while on his mission so that it could help him learn other languages. Record keeping is fun and the pages become personal textbooks and books of remembrance for each of us.

I wish I had known these principles when I started.

Ten years into homeschooling, I was a happy mother of seven with a hard decision, “Should I put my children in public school?”

My seventh child was born without a bile duct (biliary atresia). He underwent an unsuccessful surgery, was placed on the liver transplant list and continued to get worse. Our “new normal” would be in and out of the hospital therefore I would not be available much. Homeschool had become our way of life, our daily routine and our passion! After a family meeting, three of our children chose to go to public school. After a successful transplant everyone returned home to learn together.

I aspire to teach my children using a system: 1) remember who they are, 2) receive and record personal revelation, 3) relate and act on their knowledge, 4) recognize principles, 5) retain by sharing with others and 6) rejoice in new wisdom and begin again with the new situation.

The wonderful thing about homeschooling is watching my children learn something new and experiencing their ahas first hand. The best thing is watching them confidently make inspired decisions, apply their knowledge wisely and lovingly teach each other.

Homeschooling is an accelerated way to learn patience, tolerance, and true connection. I chose the vehicle of homeschooling to help me develop these virtues. You can too. Christ qualifies those that have the desire. If you have been thinking about it then jump in. You will be lead to your mentors, just as I was. And one day you’ll have your child say to you, as my daughter said to me, “Mom, you are my best mentor.”

Tresta Neil is a veteran homeschool mother of eight. She learned principles and practices right alongside of her children for years and currently teaches them to other parents to help make their journey easier. Her passion is in researching truth and symbols and sharing them with others. To learn more about her products and programs please visit her website at www.KeystoneEd.com. Her unique resume includes sitting on a cactus.

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4 new beliefs that helped me go from miserable to happy

(written by Tresta Neil 2011, Published in the Prosperity Tribe Magazine)

Mary did you know as a child that you were the chosen one?

Mary did you know of your role in nurturing God own son?…

Mary, mother of Jesus, chosen daughter of God, said,

“Be it onto me, Lord, according to thy word.”

Mary something whispers to me that I have a mission too

Daily I am learning the thing the Savior would have me do…

I would be like Mary, I am a daughter of God.

Then be it unto me, Lord, according to thy word.

(Lyrics by Janice Kapp Perry, Daughter of God)

These are the words to a song I sang as a young woman. I wanted to be a mother like Mary. I had three children within three years. I worked nights as a nurse and I tended to the children by letting them watch a movie so I could sleep. Often I would awake to a mess of torn books or books in the bathtub or eggs all over the floor or whip cream painted all over the lounge chair. If this was motherhood, I didn’t want it! There was no joy in constant clean up and exhaustion.

Today, I still work part time, but I’m happy, I find great joy in raising my children.
What made the difference? you ask. I got educated! I changed! I switched many of my old, incorrect beliefs to correct and energizing beliefs.
I call my new beliefs, MY MOTHERHOOD KEYS, here are a few:

It is only by Grace that we find joy

I had believed that it was only through hard work, service, and doing the best I could that I could be happy. But, the more I did the less happy I felt, so I thought I would never be good enough. New belief: Submitting my will was the only “work” required and all I had to do. I found joy in every moment knowing I was doing what the Lord wanted. Mary submitted her will, her whole life to God when she said, “Be it onto me, Lord, according to thy word.”

What is happening now is what is meant to happen

As my children would make mistakes I would often blame myself: I must be doing something wrong, I need to be better at teaching them the ways of the Lord so they won’t fall. My new belief: God is in control, this is his business I must give my time and worries to him. Remember this is their life and their choices, all I need to do is love them exactly how and where they are. Mary did not spend her time blaming herself when Jesus was being made fun of for being illegitimate.

The Remarkable Meaning of Mundane.

Often I found myself cleaning the whole house after the children did their chores. I felt trapped in the dirty house and felt no one cared. The dishes and laundry never ended. My new belief: Family Work links us together. Daily tasks that are mundane and thoughtless gives us opportunity to connect with each other, helps us help each other. I’ve learned more about my children by just listening to them while cooking dinner than I ever would have telling them to leave the kitchen. Mary had each of her children work by her and Joseph’s side.

The Secret of our future is hidden in our Daily Routine!

The first few years of marriage and having children it was difficult to have family prayer and scripture study let alone have Family Home Evening. So we dedicated ourself to start small. We first began adding a family devotional to our daily routine. We sang a song, read a few verses of scripture, memorized a poem and monthly theme, said our family laws (love, joy, obedience, manners, order, peace and service), had a family prayer and ended with our chant (Have a great day! N-E-I-L Neil’s are Champions!!). This created consistency and unity in our lives. Mary had a consistent daily routine.

As Mary raised Jesus there were many sorrows and disappointments, but she stood strong and firm in her belief. She KNEW who she was: The Mother of the Son of God! I KNOW I am a daughter of God and a Mother of Great Ones so now I can stand strong and say, “be it unto me, Lord, according to Thy will.”

For more “Motherhood Keyz” see Keystoneeducation.wordpress.com or Keystone Education on facebook.

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7 Truths I Wish I had Known Before I Became a Mother

(written by Tresta Neil for Molly Christensen)

“Let’s homeschool our children,” my husband, Thom, proposed after our fourth child was born. “He must be delirious,” I thought. “I don’t always enjoy being a mother now, I could never be their teacher too. Plus, they would miss out on all the fun, social life I enjoyed.”

I returned home from my mission to the Netherlands in a wheelchair. There never was a clear diagnosis, but they did tell me that I would probably not have children. Thom and I went into our marriage prepared to live our lives without children. After a few miscarriages our first child was born, we named him, happy (Isaac) because we were excited for an actual birth.

Eleven months later (you can get pregnant while nursing) came our second and 20 months later came number three. When I found out I was pregnant with number four, I panicked! “If this was motherhood, I want out! It is TOO HARD!” I remember calling up my father and sharing with him my fears. He lovingly sent me a license plate with a drawing of a pregnant woman with the inscription, “I should have gone dancing!” NOT helpful!

Thom worked days while I worked as a nurse at night. He slept while they slept and I attempted to sleep while they watched movies, tore up books, painted the couch with sour cream, chased mice, threw eggs and well, destroyed the house. The boys figured out they could get on the back of the couch and jump over mom onto the floor, often they would miss and land on me. I’d go to work with bruises and think, “Did I really sign up for this kind of life?”

I was trying to potty-train the oldest two boys while keeping the three boys away from their new baby sister when Thom came to me with this “new” plan! “Forget it!” I thought, “I can’t keep up with the cleaning and cooking let alone reading or visiting with friends, how can I come up with “cute” things to teach too? No, way! I choose not to torture myself.” I asked him if he was serious. He was. I told him my concerns and he told me his desires (which made no sense to me at the time). What could I do? I finally said, “I’d think about it” hoping it would go away.

When he brought it up again, I asked, “How could I, who was in remedial reading throughout school and graduated high school with a low GPA, teach my children? I can’t teach, I’m not smart enough. Plus, what would they do for friends and social life? Isn’t that what school was all about?” He was patient with me and listened to all my concerns. Days later he asked me to go to Utah with him. On our way he mentioned a homeschool conference I could go to while he watched all the children. Really? Was it that important to him? To appease him, I attend a homeschool conference intending to come back with knowledge not to do it.

The conference was filled with women and a few men. I talked to everyone I sat down next to and no one – no one could answer the question, “What do you do for their social life?” There were also no classes on this subject so I was pretty sure this was not for me.

Thomas Jefferson Education was introduced, it seemed to be the best method for many families. So, I bought the manuscript thinking my husband might like it. Nothing else was said about homeschooling… until the next year.

We again traveled to Utah and Thom signed me up for another conference. I went, took notes, talked to people, still no answer on social life. The last class was a woman of twelve children. She talked about how she organized her laundry, her meals, the cleaning schedule and her teaching routine. I was impressed how she could do so much. But what I loved the most was her stories about how she taught her children, how patient she was. I could see myself teaching primary or Sunday School classes, but I couldn’t visualize my own children until the woman spoke. She taught her children the gospel and added in secular learning.

My heart resonated with this woman (I still don’t know who she is), her message and the curriculum she used. It was the Noah Plan created by the Foundation for American Christian Education (F.A.C.E.) She talked about teaching principles, centering all learning on Christ, and the creation of individual notebooks that become personal textbooks. This idea stirred up many emotions and questions. “Could learning be individual?” I recalled all the times during school I would be interested in going deeper into a subject and was stopped because it didn’t fit into the curriculum or we had to move on because of time. “Could homeschooling be different?” My professor taught me, through anatomy and physiology, how angels could stand in the air. “Could ALL learning be like that? Centered on the good news of Christ?” I changed my focus, “Could my children learn all the required subjects with the gospel?”

The biggest reason I chose to serve a full time mission was so I could learn the scriptures so well that I could use them directly in teaching and disciplining my children. This did not turn out exactly how I had visualized. I was constantly tired and I often yelled at my children. I was not using the scriptures as a mother at all. This angel woman was showing me that all my dreams I had as a mother could be a reality.

“Could homeschooling assisting me in achieving this desire?” My answer came, I experienced a transformation, a complete paradigm shift, “Oh, Tresta,” I remember thinking, “you’re going to be a homeschooler.” I felt a little giddy about the possibilities and a lot of fear in my ability, but I was willing to try it. My next thought was, “Thom’s going to be happy,” and he was. He listened to my desires and plans with a smile on his face the whole way home.

God was kind and miraculously sent me a mentor, LuJean Livingston. She had discovered the Noah Plan in a hotel drawer in California. She felt it was the answer for Latter-day Saint homeschoolers. She flew out to Virginia to learn all the details and returned to share it with us. Our small group met once a month. She opened up the scriptures and showed me how every subject was found in the scriptures. She taught me how to find principles in classic books, the difference between doctrines and principles, how I could teach my children to identify true principles and have them come up with their own applications. Her guidance became my life line and the beginning of a wonderful education and experience for me and my children.

Years later, I remember sitting in my living room with all my children and we were discussing how chaotic life would be if rocks could “serve two masters.” We were laughing and learning and thinking deeply together and my mind floated away. My childhood vision of motherhood was here and now a perfect reality. Homeschooling had been the tool. God is in charge – he helps our dreams become reality.

Throughout the next twenty plus years I have received a deeper conviction that God is in charge. Here are my top seven truths about motherhood:

1 Parents are the best teachers for their children no matter their “schooling” experience.

A child cannot learn until he knows he is loved and parents love their children more than anyone else in the whole wide world. My first son and I had multiple personality conflicts. He wanted to rule the house, schedule our days and tell everyone what to do. It was a difficult beginning trying to teach him that I was the parent and not his child. I finally had had it and took it to the Lord. I felt impressed to just hold him, to rock him. So the next day he rocked back and forth and while rocking he talked to me and told me his fears and his desires to do big things in a fast way. We discovered a way to work together. After that experience I wondered if any teacher would have cared for him and taken the time to understand why he did the things he did. I don’t believe so. Parents are their child’s best teacher.

Throughout High School I believed the lies of my teachers and classmates, that I was not smart. After graduating from college, I continued to believe it. In fact, I feared conversations because it might reveal my lack of intelligence. As I learned alongside my children, making my own notebooks and sharing ah-ha’s with them I discovered that even poor students can be great teachers because as I took the time to teach I was taught. I gained confidence in many areas.

2 Life’s Challenges are the Lesson not the Interruption.

Life is full of challenges and trials we get to learn from. Our challenges included personality clashes to the point of arguments and everyone complaining at the same time. We started out homeschooling so poor that we used the back side of discarded real estate fliers from Thom’s office for our notebooks. Our seventh child was in and out of the hospital for four years with liver transplant complications and internal bleeding. Two of our sons were in different hospitals at the same time, one with RSV and the other with liver rejection. We have worked through five home births, the loss of our home and other dreams, living in a two bedroom basement apartment and minor to major learning disabilities. Our latest challenge is having Thom at home while he recovers from a virus that attacked his heart leaving it functioning at 25%. We no longer question why these challenges have come to us, nor do we see them as interruptions to our routine or groove. These challenges are the lesson God is giving us. They teach us many things, some of which are how to manage our emotions, to strengthen relationships and find peace in the storms just as Christ did.

3 Success can be Found in Consistent Daily Routines.

My son who had a stroke has many physical and learning disabilities. He took a lot longer to learn things than any of my other children. We had to teach him to climb a ladder by going out with him a few times every day and, at first physically moving him through the process, then talking him through it and finally having him talk himself through until he was able to do it without thinking about it. This is how he is currently learning to read. When he reviews the sounds of the letters daily he continues to make progress and read words, but if he skips one day his progress stops and he has to begin again. I heard Mike Murdock speak about wisdom and one thing that stuck with me all these years was, “The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine!” I plan my days around how I want my future to look. I ask myself, “Do todays activities reflect who I am spiritually and how I see my family in the millennium?” We are successful because of what we consistently do on a daily basis. Consistent learning yields a great education. Elder Scott said, “A consistent, righteous life produces an inner power and strength that can be permanently resistant to the eroding influence of sin and transgression.”

4 Creativity and Play Inspires Connection and Learning.

When we struggle with getting along, learning and growth can not happen. I remember one day I was frustrated that no one was listening to my lesson so I sent them outside to the backyard. I later joined them. They were playing in the leaves, creating forts and laughing together. I took a picture of the children in the leaves and put it up on my wall. Weeks later a friend admired the photo and I said, “That was such a horrible day!” She made a statement that stuck with me. “I sure would like to be a part of your horrible days.” We laughed. She was right, it didn’t look like a “horrible day.” We had made something beautiful out of a rough day. We even finished the lesson with smiles and joyful hearts. From that experience I learned that when mental learning is not happening or negative emotions are taking over, doing something physical or creative will prepare the mind and inspires the learning connection.

5 Recording Creates Lasting Memories.

Creating notebooks of our learning and adventures has been the single most joyful thing we have done in our family experience. These notebooks have become a source of memories, of recalling lessons and for teaching and mentoring others. My son asked for his English reference notebook while on his mission so that it could help him learn other languages. Record keeping is fun and the pages become personal textbooks and books of remembrance for each of us.

6 Boredom Breed Brilliance

Don’t get too freaked out on this statement. It comes with a caveat of “within the right environment.” Basically, give your children lots of freedom. Don’t over schedule them or hover over them. Allow them time to be alone, to think, help them learn how to keep from being idle and allowing bad thought in. Freedom to think and create on their own makes their minds sharper.

7. “I am not responsible for how my children turn out”

This is a great mantra to memorize and have settle in your heart. You are responsible for how and what you teach them, but they are responsible for their own choices. Knowing this can help you relax and not worry. It is hard for some mothers to not take their children’s choices personally. This is how God teaches us, he tells us the consequences of the good choices and the bad choices and then allows us to choose. He loves us no matter what we choose. This does not effect his self worth or status. Teach you children consequences with love and allow them to choose and don’t be attached or feel guilty about their choices. When I fail to remember this principle my job gets hard. When I turn again to God and allow him to teach my child the way he sees fit, then I have the easiest job in the world, and the most rewarding. Remember God is in charge.

Years ago, I created a long check list of the many things I want my children to learn before they left home. It still hangs on our wall. The adult children get a kick out of looking at what they checked off and telling stories of how they learn it. And my younger ones listen and look forward to learning all of them. But here is the reality. There are only a few things I want my children to absolutely know before they leave my home. I want my children to be converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and know:

How the spirit speaks to them personally, therefore, how to learn
Me, my heart, my mind, my testimony
The plan of happiness and all its parts (the big and the small picture)
How to share their hearts and the bounteous blessings of God

Friends have asked me, “Would you be homeschool mother if you knew then what you know now?” The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” For me, homeschooling is what makes motherhood sparkle! All the answers to the questions I had at the beginning, “Could my children learn all subjects centered in God?” “Could scriptures be used for all learning and discipline?” “Could my children survive without the social life of public school?” are being answered daily. Just as the answers to the fundamental questions of life like, who created us? who is God? was the resurrection of Christ really physical? and does it apply to me? continues to unfold as we ponder and is the sparkle in our lives.

Continual seeking for answers to fundamental questions makes a big difference to our family in the way we view the world and the things we choose to do as a family. God is in charge, he helps parents learn to teach, and children one day become parents, what a beautiful cycle of which we are all apart.

Tresta Neil is a passionate learner, the keeper of her home and a seeker of truth. She and her husband, Thom, homeschool their eight children. Together they are the co-founder of Keystone Education and Called to Learn which provide trainings for families in faith centered learning, relationships and gospel centered symbols. She is the author of The Theology Tree, grafting the eight core subject branches back on God’s divine trunk, God Saw that it was Good, How to Discover God in a Circle and other symbology books. She has a passion for learning and sharing. Her favorite subject is the stars. She once (only once) sat on a cactus, ask her about it.

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(written by Tresta Neil in 2015 for Keyguard, our co-op class)

Take your pencil and grade yourself honestly on each question with a 1, 2, or 3: 1. Yes 2. To some degree 3. No

Do I believe that I can call on God and he will hear me?
Do I believe that I will receive what I ask?
Do I have great expectations?
Do I show daily enthusiasm?
Do I believe I can draw upon the power of God?
Do I believe that the answer to all my problems is close by?
Do I have a deep conviction that all that the Father hath is mine?
Do I believe that “life” treats me the way I believe it will?
Do I place all my dependence upon God?
Do I empty my mind of all contrary and negative thoughts so that faith can operate without interference?
Do I strive to show my faith through every thought, action and feeling?
Do I believe that I have dominion?
Do I believe God wants me to succeed?
Do I have a definite purpose in prayer?
Do I expect answers to my prayers?
Are all the forces of my being moving with my desire to be like Christ?
Do I believe in Christ and accept him as my Savior?
Do I feel confident that God loves me?
Do I trust the Savior enough to accept his will and do whatever he asks?
Do I firmly believe that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can be forgiven of all my sins?
Do I have enough Faith to obtain answers to my prayers?
Do I think about the Savior during the day and remember what he has done for me?
Do I have the faith necessary to make good things happen in my life or the lives of others?
Do I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true?
Do I have enough faith in Christ to accomplish anything he wants me to do even miracles?

The closer your number is to 25 the stronger the faith you have. This is an on going process and not about perfection. This is only a guide to help you know what area to work on.

Make it a daily practice to focus on faith, focus on one area until you have mastered it and then choose another one to focus on. Write about your progress, challenges and improvement in you study or scripture journal.

Questions taken from God Works through Faith by Robert Russell and Preach My Gospel

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(compiled by Tresta Neil in 2014 for the LDS Homeschool Conference)

History
Ancient History

A Voice of Warning by Parley P. Pratt Reformation
At the Summit of the Ages by Gordon B. Hinckley

Geography
Mathematical Geography

Our Creator’s Cosmos by Neal A. Maxwell

Physical Geography (land, air, water)

Dikes Verses Living Water by David B. Wirthlin

Political Geography (borders, culture)

Removing Barriers to Happiness by Richard G. Scott

Literature

Scripture

The Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto our Salvation by Robert D. Hales

Biographies

God Will Have a Tried People by Howard W. Hunter

Poetry

The Poetry of Success by Sterling W. Sill

Classics

Medicine for the Soul? by Sterling W. Sill Drama
Joy in the Journey by Thomas S. Monson

Nations/Culture

The Church Goes Forward by Gordon B. Hinckley
The Ensign to the Nations; a Light to the World by Gordon B. Hinckley

Language

Science of Grammar, etc. by Orson Hyde, Jan. 22, 1855
The Tongue of Angels Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2007 General Conference Science Astronomy
The Heavens Declare the Glory of the Lord by Don Lind (Space Flight)

Chemistry

My Father’s Formula by Henry B. Eyring Physics
The Law and the Light by Boyd K. Packer
God Will Have a Tried People by Howard W. Hunter (friction)

Geology (land)

What is the symbolic meaning of the term ‘rock’ in the scriptures?

Oceanography (water)

Ocean Currents and Family Influences by Spencer W. Kimball
True to the Faith by Thomas S. Monson (maka fekes)

Meteorology (air)

Christlike Attributes: Wind beneath our Wings by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Botany (plants)

This is My Work and My Glory by M. Russell Ballard (tomato plants)

Zoology (animals)

Fundamental Principles to Ponder and Live by Spencer W. Kimball

Humanology (crowning creation)

The Magnificence of Man by Russell M. Nelson

Math

Key to the Universe by Orson Pratt
The Physical Worlds by Henry B. Eyring

Music

At the Summit of the Ages Gordon B. Hinckley
Worthy music, worthy thoughts by Boyd K. Packer and video The Power of Hymns by Merrill J. Bateman
Satan’s Thrust – the Youth by Ezra T. Benson
Les Derniers Jours by John A. Green

Art

The Gospel Vision of the Arts by Spencer W. Kimball
How Will Our children Remember Us? by Robert D. Hales
The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord by Elder Boyd K Packer
At the Summit of the Ages by Gordon B. Hinckley The post Resources for the Eight Core Subjects appeared first on Called to Learn.

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(written in 2012 for our co-op group)

“You are breaking the law when you cross over the double line, mom.” I heard my teenage daughter exclaim. “I had to or I would not have been able to get off at this exit.” I heard myself give a lame excuse. At the intersection I asked her if she knew the difference between a law and and rule or principle. She thought she knew and explained the traffic laws to me. After admitting I was wrong and that I should have been more alert and gotten out at the earlier dashed lines we proceeded to have a great discussion about the difference between principles and laws, true, natural laws.

True Natural Laws are dependable and constant they are not man made. Joseph Smith said, “God has made certain decrees which are fixed and immovable; for instance, God set the sun, the moon, and the stars in the heavens, and gave them their laws, conditions and bounds, which they cannot pass…they all move in perfect harmony in their sphere and order.” (Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 197)

Gravity is a natural law or a law of nature. It follows God’s decree perfectly, it can never change. You don’t have to believe in it. You don’t have to understand it. In fact, you don’t even have to like it. But you are still subject to it. Everything on this earth is subject to gravity. Suppose you choose not to believe in the law of gravity and that you are going to believe in positive thinking. So you go to the top of a building after you have prepared mentally, you believe with all your might and you step off. Once again gravity proves to be true and positive thinking didn’t work. Why? Isn’t positive thinking a true principle? Yes, but that is just it. It is a principle. Principles only work when applied in harmony with the Natural Laws.

In her book Hidden Treasures, Leslie Householder explains a law as “something absolute, something unbreakable, and something that just “is.” You cannot break a law; you can only break yourself against it. If you violate the law, you will most definitely be sorry you did, and unfortunately there is no mercy if you’re ignorant. The consequences will come, regardless of your understanding of the law.” (Leslie Householder, “Hidden Treasures,” pg. 15) Boyd K. Packer said it this way, “Laws govern the physical universe with such constancy and precision that once man has discovered them, he can, by their effect, demonstrate their existence with unfailing accuracy.” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Great Plan of Happiness”, BYU D&C Church History Symposium, 10 Aug 1993)

A principle on the other hand can be broken. It is a truth, a doctrinally based guideline for the righteous exercise of moral agency. Principles are subsets or components of broader gospel truths or doctrine. Principles provide direction. Richard G. Scott said, “principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application.” Principles are true throughout time and cultures. They answer the question “what?” Principles are NOT an action but often lead to an action.

Doctrines and principles work together with laws. Natural laws govern the universe, God never changes them and he lives by them himself. Just as our spirit and our body work together as a soul, principles and laws work together. The physical world and the spiritual world are interconnected. Monte Nyman and Charles Tate said, “There is law and order and precision in the universe that is awesome! What is physical interconnects with the spiritual; what is spiritual, or eternal, or moral resonates with the physical. We respond in our very souls to the order in the universe. How we respect those interconnections will have profound effect upon our happiness or sorrow.” (Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, “Jacob through Words of Mormon: To Learn with Joy”, BYU Religious Studies Center, 1990, 15).

We live with the laws whether we know them or not but we can learn to work in harmony with them by choosing or taking action based on true doctrine and correct principles in harmony with the laws of the universe. My daughter, who now was completely in the conversation concluded with, “This act of working in harmony with the laws can only bring happiness and joy to our lives.”

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Knowing at what level to compare your child

(written in 2011 for the prosperity tribe)

A few years ago my children were a part of a charter school that assists homeschoolers by providing them with elective options that are not easily taught at home. We met once a week and attend fun classes. The catch was they had to take a state exam. The school enforced the importance of having the children do well on this test and so they emailed the parents tips or “cheats” on how to increase your score on the test. I was shocked at some of the tips; they had nothing to do with how much the child knew or how well they wrote. The test was to be checked by a computer on the number of key words used and what key elements were used to create a paragraph. The youth are extremely busy satisfying the state and now the nation’s requirements and very little time on the Lord's.

There is a huge focus on "passing the test", worrying about the child being "at level"; and getting "good grades". When did we stop focusing on "laying hold of every good thing"? How much time are you devoting to teaching your children to increase their "spiritual level"? Do they know how to “pass" the Lord's test? Do you know the Lord's requirements?

There was a study conducted concerning the effectiveness of the mormon missionaries in the field. They wanted to know what the largest factor was in helping them become effective. The results were surprising! They had expected church and/or seminary attendance, family prayer and Family Home Evening to be the highest, but it was not. The highest result for helping them become the most effective was personal study (Russell Ballard, “Making of a Missionary”, Oct. 1976). Do we find quiet time and are we comfortable with being alone with God to receive individual inspiration and spiritual answers to physical problems?

Do your children know how to be quiet? Are they comfortable being alone with God? Do they know how the spirit speaks to them as an individual? If so, how much time do they spend quietly with the Lord? The scriptures tell us to "let ALL thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord." (Alma 37:36) What are your children spending the majority of time thinking about? What are you thinking about?

Satan’s main goal is to get us to stop thinking. He does this in many ways, first, by filling our time with distractions, busy work, addictions, entertainment, appointments, etc. Second, he decreases our desire to read, write, and communicate well. Third, he instills in us the belief that we do not need to increase our learning or continue our education (the brethren say we should be life long learners). Fourth, he introduces us to slang and keeps us away from the true meaning of words. And Fifth, he takes away symbolism. In the English language we use many words to describe something; in God's language he uses few words and teaches at many different levels. How is Satan working on your family? It is important to learn how to be mindful of your thinking so Satan can’t control it with negative, mindless thinking.

Here are five principles that will help you know where you are with the Lord's requirements or God’s level (D&C 130:21) and how to combat Satan's plan (Alma 12:17). They are called The 5 Key Spiral Principles:

1 - I am a son (daughter) of GodI AM: This principle is about knowing who you are and teaching your children who they are: children of God; divinity within. You are a complete whole within a complete whole. Teach this by teaching them the characteristics of the Godhead. You cannot understand your own character until you understand the character of God. (Joseph Smith) Tell stories, play games, spend time, act, and prompt them to do what is right. This step is taught between ages 0 and 8.

2 - I Listen and Follow the Holy GhostI LISTEN: This principle is about becoming spiritually fluent, knowing how the spirit speaks to you as an individual. Teach your children to listen to the spirit and follow its promptings. Teach this by letting them make decisions on their own and seeing the consequences. Talk about the experience. Be an example and share your own stories of triumph. This step is taught between ages 8-12, just after they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. You are teaching them how to use it.

3 - I Understand What I have LearnedI UNDERSTAND: This is the principle of learning, bringing what you have been taught in your minds (knowledge) and bringing it down into your hearts (understanding). This is when your learning becomes part of you. This step is taught by asking good questions, teaching etymology (the study of words) and symbolism (understanding God’s language) This is taught between the ages of 12 - 15. You are helping them learn how to combat Satan's plan.

4 - I Choose to Act in ChristI ACT: This is the application principle. Now that you know and understand, how will you make this part of my life? Teach this by teaching them how to use their faith and to know the difference between doctrines, principles and application. Give them opportunities to share, teach and serve. Encourage them to write down their plans and find ways to stay accountable to the things they want to improve on. This is taught between the ages of 14 - 18. Allow them to act for themselves.

5 - I become changed, increase in growth, when I follow steps 1 - 4I BECOME: This is the new level, the celebration principle. At this step you are able to share and help others succeed.

At this last step of achievement, you’ll often find “rest.” But not for long, because you’ll get bored and want to create again or find something that challenges you again. Therefore, the 5 Key Steps becomes a spiral and you’ll find yourself again at step one, remembering who you are, listening to the spirit telling you about your next adventure, project, person, or challenge. Then you’ll study, learn all you can about it and go to work, take action and once again arrive at a new level.

These principles allow you to find and follow the Lord's requirements. My oldest son, who said he would never like geometry, came to me a few days back and drew out a shape and began teaching me what he had learned about God through a few shapes. He testified of Christ and His role as the first- born son through a few simple shapes. He had taken simple principles and used them to think, and think deeply. We know this by the Principle Effect, how a simple principle stemmed from doctrine, affects our life when we learn its many meanings and it leads us to righteous action. When you teach your children true principles, allow them to think on their own and to create what comes naturally and from God, they will become the men and women God wants them to be. You will know that they are at the correct level.

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The fourth Article of Faith states, "We believe in the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are first, faith in the lord Jesus Christ, second, repentance, third baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, fourth laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

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The post Ep 40 |Create an Effective Home with Sustainable Systems, Become the Leader! appeared first on Called to Learn.

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What is faith?

"Faith is the evidence of things not seen and the assurance of things hoped for."

The post Ep 39 | Definitions: Faith appeared first on Called to Learn.

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Lehi, Mulek, and Jared's family were each promised a land for their inheritance. Sometimes in the scriptures this land is referred to as the "promised land" and other times it is referred to as "land of promise." What is the difference?

The post Ep 38 | DEFINITIONS: Land of Promise vs. Promised Land appeared first on Called to Learn.

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Were the founding fathers Christian?

During the founding of our nation religion was very confusing. It was a time of confusion and each church had their own belief and interpretation of the scriptures.

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What to know how to put your goals and plans into action? In this podcast we follow Gods plan to success.

The post Ep 36 | Goal Setting with God (Part Four) appeared first on Called to Learn.

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Goals can be hard to achieve. But God has given us a pattern that we can use to achieve goals faster. God want's you to succeed in life. He has given you a path that we teach in this podcast. Listen now to learn more.

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We all know it's important to have a huge commencement level when achieving goals. But how big is your commitment level? In this podcast, we go back to the parable of the sower to find the answer.

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Does God want us to dream big? It's not an easy question but has a simple answer. Tune into this episode to learn how to dream big for the Lord using Abraham's example.

The post Ep 33 | Goal Setting with God (Part One) appeared first on Called to Learn.

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Learn the truth about the witnesses of Christ's birth. Remeber and know the events after christ birth and how they relate to modern times.

The post Ep 32 | The Truth About the Witnesses of Christ’s Birth appeared first on Called to Learn.

Gospel Theory Podcast Archives - Called to Learn: Recent Episodes

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For more “Motherhood Keyz” see Keystoneeducation.wordpress.com or Keystone Education on facebook.

Questions taken from God Works through Faith by Robert Russell and Preach My Gospel