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Sunday on our way home from church our van died. Like died died. Not “it needs a jump to start” or “it’s out of gas” but like really kicked the bucket. Nearly 250,000 miles, over 15 years old, it lived a good long life and went to that big junkyard in the sky right in the middle of a pretty busy road. We got in a turn lane but the nearest street was up hill. I got behind the wheel and kept the kiddos calm while Tall Cake pushed it during a lull in traffic. 

Within moments 3 complete strangers came to his aid to push it all the way up the hill to safety. The first man asked if we wanted assistance and quickly got to work. Seeing what was going on, two more rushed over out of different cars without a word and just started helping. Then a 4th complete stranger, a woman who was from out of town, pulled up behind us and asked if we needed a ride. She saw me, in heels and church clothes, in the snow and slush, talking through the window to the kiddos, and acted selflessly to help. 

After I got the car seats in her vehicle, thanked her profusely, and was dropped off with the two little ones at the house, Tall Cake called to tell me the bishop recommended we call one of his counselors, who happens to be our landlord, for a tow because he had the equipment. A few minutes later they were pulling up to our drive. A whole slew of people, without requesting monetary payment or returned favors, without murmuring or complaining, gave of their time and efforts and turned a potentially expensive and possibly dangerous situation into a display of love and service. 

So many tender mercies, blessings from Heavenly Father through His children during an otherwise stormy situation. God is good!

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The future of your faith is not by chance, but by choice.

Neil L. Andersen (via alittlehappyplace)

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Fire and Sharks, we get it

Every fundamental part of every body will be restored to its proper place again in the resurrection, no matter what may become of the body in death. If it be burned by fire, eaten by sharks, no matter what. Every fundamental part of it will be restored to its own proper place. Moreover, we will have a bright recollection of all our past. (Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:103)

It is true that the mortal body in due time returns to the earth as the Lord predicted that it should. Much of the cremated body is carried off into the air and only a small portion of ash remains. However it is impossible to destroy a body. It makes no difference whether a body is consumed by fire, buried in the depths of the sea, or placed in the tomb, the time will come when every essential particle will be called back again to its own place, and the individual whose body was laid away, or scattered to the winds, will be reassembled with every essential part restored. (Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:100)

The discoveries that man has made in these modern years prove that matter cannot be destroyed. A body may be burned in the furnace or at the stake; it may be eaten by sharks in the great ocean, or in some other manner be consumed; but we have the assurance through the teachings of our Redeemer that the resurrection will be universal and not one soul shall be forgotten and his body be left in the grave. We are assured that the particles, all that are essential to the body, will be brought back again to their proper places and the great vision shown to Ezekiel definitely will be fulfilled. (Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:42)

-Joseph Fielding Smith (Quorum of the Twelve)

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Handbook 2

Browsing through and finding a lot of stuff really interesting. Crazy how much I didn’t know! A couple things are perplexing though so if anyone within the faith with theories or, even better, any actual insight, wants to have a chat that’d be lovely!

21.3.2

Cremation

The Church does not normally encourage cremation. The family of the deceased must decide whether the body should be cremated, taking into account any laws governing burial or cremation. In some countries, the law requires cremation.

Where possible, the body of a deceased member who has been endowed should be dressed in temple clothing when it is cremated. A funeral service may be held.

Yes yes I had heard that, even though I had a lot of questions about why the handbook specifically says ‘does not normally encourage’ instead of saying the church wasn’t involved in such matter or discouraged or something else. It’s kind of elusive phrasing. I had a couple ideas about keeping the body whole or sacred or the 2nd coming or blah blah blah that didn’t have a lot of weight but were just ideas. THEN I read this!

21.3.7

Organ and Tissue Donations and Transplants

The donation of organs and tissues is a selfless act that often results in great benefit to individuals with medical conditions. The decision to will or donate one’s own body organs or tissue for medical purposes, or the decision to authorize the transplant of organs or tissue from a deceased family member, is made by the individual or the deceased member’s family.

A decision to receive a donated organ should be made after receiving competent medical counsel and confirmation through prayer.

which is fantastic because organ donation is such a beautiful gift and it’s great to see that, according to the official handbook anyway, the church seems to be all for it.

but then I realized that a lot of my ‘maybe say no to cremation’ theories were debunked by the ‘yeah lob off body parts when you’re dead no biggie’ ya know?

Anyone have thoughts as to why one is good but the other probably isn’t ideal? 

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For the word of the Lord to penetrate the hearts of our young people, we need teachers who are bold enough to teach the doctrine of the restored gospel...

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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A reasonable vocabulary of well-chosen words provides us with shadings of meaning and enables us to speak finely instead of coarsely...Now, note the difference in the four-word sentences: "John looked at Mary"; "John glanced at Mary"; "John gazed at Mary"; "John glared at Mary." A true definition of style is, "Proper words in proper places with thoughts in proper order." ...Words should be kind and gentle or firm and bold, according to the need of the moment. Words which betray are unkind and words which befuddle are frustrating...Every person should say what he means, speaking clearly and distinctly.

Spencer W. Kimball

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These scriptures help us understand that the process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ that is commenced in the waters of baptism is continued and enlarged in the house of the Lord. As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple. As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.

David A. Bednar

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[A]ny legislation which is designed to create neuter gender of that which God created male and female will bring more problems than benefits.

Gordon B. Hinckley

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Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

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Our Heavenly Father endowed His sons and daughters with unique traits especially fitted for their individual responsibilities as they fulfill His plan. To follow His plan requires that you do those things He expects of you as a son or daughter, husband or wife. Those roles are different but entirely compatible. In the Lord’s plan, it takes two—a man and a woman—to form a whole. Indeed, a husband and wife are not two identical halves, but a wondrous, divinely determined combination of complementary capacities and characteristics.

Richard G. Scott

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We live in a time when many women wish to have no part in the bearing and nurturing of children. Many young adults delay marriage until temporal needs are satisfied. The average age of our church members' marriages has increased by more than two years and the number of births to church members is falling...Each of these trends works against our Father's divine plan of salvation.

Dallin H. Oaks

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As Elder Neal A. Maxwell urged, don't be among those who would rather try to change the church than to change themselves

Dallin H. Oaks

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[Satan] also seeks to confuse gender, to distort marriage, and to discourage child bearing, especially by parents who will raise children in truth

Dallin H. Oaks

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Opposition is a part of the plan

Dallin H. Oaks

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We are beloved children of a Heavenly Father who has taught us that maleness and femaleness, marriage between a man and a woman, and the bearing and nurturing of children are all essential to His great Plan of Happiness.

Dallin H. Oaks

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Abortion is an ugly thing, a debasing thing, a thing which inevitably brings remorse and sorrow and regret.

While we denounce it, we make allowance in such circumstances as when pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is judged by competent medical authority to be in serious jeopardy, or when the fetus is known by competent medical authority to have serious defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.

-President Gordon B. Hinckley

The church is absolutely publicly opposed to Abortion. Just because there are very few select allowances doesn’t mean it’s not openly denounced. 

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Mortal life is sacred to us. Our commitment to God's plan requires us to oppose abortion and euthanasia

Dallin H. Oaks