SodySpokes

During His ministry on the earth, Christ spent His time serving and helping others. True disciples of Christ do likewise. The Savior said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

As I see it, there are two kinds of service: one, is the service we do as we fulfill our Church callings; the other, is the service we willingly give to those around us, because we (are taught to) care.¹

So, what exactly is service? (Read the article)

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“The Ecstasy of the Agony: How to Be Single and Sane at the Same Time,”

Anne G. Osborn, Ensign, Mar. 1977, 47-49

It seems that one of the unintentionally best-kept secrets in the Church is that a multitude of unique blessings and special opportunities are available to single members.

As a young child, I remember the delicious agony of waiting through a seemingly interminable night for the magic dawn of Christmas morning. In my eager anticipation of the wondrous surprises awaiting us under the Yule tree, I forgot the important events that long night celebrated.

Likewise, in our anxiety to marry, we can easily neglect the many unique opportunities to prepare ourselves, not only for marriage, but for eternal exaltation.
(Read the article)

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So I apparently made a mistake in confiding in my roommate the knowledge that in the 2 1/2 years that I’ve lived in Las Vegas and attended the University 3rd Ward, which is now the Siena YSA Ward, I have yet to be asked to give a talk in church. She apparently felt that this was unacceptable, because she blabbed to the bishopric and now I’m stuck giving a talk in church next Sunday.

My calling in the ward is that of Publicity Committee Chair. I’m in charge of the ward directory and the programs. Well, the bishop has been harping on me to get the Directory done, and I don’t think that he realizes that that is a nearly impossible task. So I gave him a “good enough” (as supposed to a “finished”) directory. Well, he had a meeting with my roommate Thecla last Wednesday, because she is the Temple Co-Chair. Well, he asked her to remind me about the program. He also asked her to give a talk, but Jimmy (the Executive Secretary) reminded the bishop that she had just given a talk the previous week. Well, that meant that they have to find someone else to do it. “Hmmm, who can we get to give a talk? Oh, I know! Connie’s never talked in church!”

So, this afternoon, while I was in the chapel, right before Sacrament meeting started, (I had just gotten to the chapel, I was busy getting the program printed) the Bishop comes up to me and he says “I didn’t want to have to chase you down the hall.” I knew that he was trying to corner me into giving a talk, but I tried to deflect it, by handing him the directory. It didn’t work. He was all excited about the directory, but he didn’t forget about asking me to talk. He was like “It’s come to my attention that you need to speak in church. And I would like to ask you to speak next week.” At this, I looked him straight in the face and said, “No.” He was a little taken aback, and then said “The correct answer is: yes.” “No… *sigh* Okay, fine. What is the topic?” “I’ll tell you later.”

So first he asks me to speak, and then he doesn’t even tell me the topic?!? Just who does he think he is?!? The Bishop?!?

Well, I had to corner him after Gospel Doctrine to find out. Apparently he wants me to speak on “How Giving Service To Others Benefits You”

So the first thing that popped in to my head when he said this, is a line from an Avenue Q song “Helping others brings you closer to God” however the song would not exactly be appropriate to play during sacrament meeting, so I don’t know if I can work it in.

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Well, its that time of year again, the Retarded Tree Season. I caught glimpses of it back in August, (how weird is that?).

As the nights get colder, the trees go retarded or something, and they forget how to make green and start making other colors. Red, and yellow, and pink, and green, orange, and purple, and blue…NO WAIT! I don’t think there is a blue…so close, and yet so far!

But it hit full blown when the firehouse up Emigration Canyon, caught on fire. (How weird is that?!?!) On the News they showed planes dropping red fire retardant on the fire, and I thought, “How retarded is that?” And then I thought “I’ll bet Connie would make the same comment.”

And then I thought, It’s a shame they don’t have Retarded Tree Season in Las Vegas, maybe Connie could come and celebrate the season up here, since she is the one who created/named it.

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Whoa … Once the hauling, labor and delivery are done - Wham Bam you are a Mother!! You have not changed your role as Wife, you still clean, cook, wash, etc., just now, more so. However, you now have a few added items to your daily list to have checked off. You soon learn that your capacity to Love has increased 100 fold, and for some reason, your capacity for patience has decreased equally. I have found that over time these two important factors will sea-saw, somehow, someday, they will balance (maybe in the next life).

As these dear little ones grow, we also learn to adjust to every day life with new twists. Bumps, scratches, cuts, stitches, broken bones, bruised hearts, hopeful souls. We learn to deal with trama, drama, lost or undone homework, upset feelings and teachers. We then move on to High School, Seminary, church responsibilities, cars, dating, curfews… late nights in a chair.. (oops - that’s dad) - I did not really worry - I felt I had raised my children to be trusted. Then we move on to College, Missions, Marriage, Grandchildren - Wow!!! (Read the article)

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