The $1 Bill Holy Ghost

Autumn & I got up this morning and I put the finishing touches on my talk and then we got ready and went to Church. Mom & Dad came to my ward to hear me speak, but mostly to sit with Autumn while I was up on the stand. After Church Mom said, “I feel like I was mauled by a bear,” b/c Autumn kept climbing all over her and wore her out….welcome to my world! Church is hard sometimes when you have a little one you have to keep entertained for an hour. Anyways, I think my talk went well and I really enjoyed giving it. Here are a few of my favorite quotes about patriotism and the Constitution:

• D&C 101:80 And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.

• D&C 109: 54 (part of the dedicatory prayer on the Kirtland temple) Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.

• I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed His stamp of approval on the Constitution of this land. I testify that the God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has sent other choice spirits—even you who read my words—to preserve it.~ Ezra Taft Benson

• Then I told this touching story that I first read back in 2008.

• Then I talked about how this is a choice land, but only if we remain righteous. I also talked about the Title of Liberty and how we each need to have our own Title of Liberty in our families, b/c a nation cannot succeed if it’s families are not strong.

Today in Primary, the lesson was on the Holy Ghost and how to recognize it. Sis. Hedienreich did an AMAZING job. She had a bunch of $1 size pieces of paper in a bag, and then a real $1. She had a kid come up and asked him to find the $1 among all the regular paper w/out looking in the bag. It took him about 30 seconds to find it, but he did and she said the Holy Ghost is easy to recognize from other things when we are living the way we should, but we have to pay attention to the feelings He gives us.

Then she had the kid put on a latex medical glove and had him find the $1 again. This time it took him a little longer b/c it was harder to feel the slight difference between the $1 bill and the regular paper. She said that is how little sins (like not obeying our parents or being mean to a sibling) affect our ability to feel the Spirit.

Then she had him put on a heavy leather working glove. She had him find the $1 bill this time and he couldn’t at all. He brought out a handful of regular paper instead. She said that is what sins like stealing or cheating or things like that do to our ability to feel and recognize the Spirit.

I was so impressed w/ that lesson and it really made a huge impact on me and really brought the point to life. Then she had a bunch of objects in a bag and had different kids come up and pick an item and explain how that was like the Holy Ghost. Here are some of the things she had in the bag:

• Compass ~ Guides us
• Pool floatie ~ Protects us
• Whistle ~ Warns us
• Soft blanket ~ Comforts us, warm fuzzy feelings
• Shell ~ To hear the ocean in the shell you have to be very quiet and listen carefully
• Candle ~ Lights the way
• Heart shaped pendant ~ Helps us feel the love of our Heavenly Father

It was an excellent sharing time and one I will not forget.

After church, I had a temple recommend interview and the Dowds offered to watch Autumn for me while I had my interview. That was SO THOUGHTFUL of them, especially since after Church you usually can’t wait to get home and eat and the last thing anyone wants to do is stay longer. I was very touched by such a small but meaningful gesture.

Anyways, we went over to Mom & Dad’s for Sunday dinner. Mom had a roast and carrots and potatoes, but they weren’t cooked b/c she’s not used to her new oven yet. So, we just had sandwiches until dinner was ready a few hours later. Autumn sat down on Mom’s lap for a few minutes and was out like a light! She looks so BIG in this picture, but that’s b/c she is! She’s only 3 1/2 but is the size of a 5 year old and is just continuing to grow. I think she’s going to be an Amazon Woman like me, which will be great. I love being tall.

Anyways, we just relaxed and watched TV and then at 8:00 we watched Drop Dead Diva and at 9:00 we watched Army Wives. Then I took Autumn home and put her to bed. I was worried she wouldn’t go back to sleep since she took a nap from 5-7:30, but she went right to bed.