Sunday Sermon: "You Matter to Him"

Moses, one of the greatest prophets the world has ever known, was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter and spent the first 40 years of his life in the royal halls of Egypt. He knew firsthand the glory and grandeur of that ancient kingdom.

Years later, on the top of a distant mountain, far removed from the splendor and magnificence of mighty Egypt, Moses stood in the presence of God and spoke to Him face to face as a man speaks with his friend.¹ During the course of that visitation, God showed Moses the workmanship of His hands, granting him a glimpse of His work and glory. When the vision ended, Moses fell to the earth for the space of many hours. When his strength finally returned, he realized something that, in all his years in Pharaoh’s court, had never occurred to him before.

“I know,” he said, “that man is nothing.”²

We Are Less Than We Suppose

The more we learn about the universe, the more we understand—at least in a small part—what Moses knew. The universe is so large, mysterious, and glorious that it is incomprehensible to the human mind. “Worlds without number have I created,” God said to Moses.³ The wonders of the night sky are a beautiful testimony of that truth.

There are few things that have filled me with such breathless awe as flying in the black of night across oceans and continents and looking out my cockpit window upon the infinite glory of millions of stars.

Astronomers have attempted to count the number of stars in the universe. One group of scientists estimates that the number of stars within range of our telescopes is 10 times greater than all the grains of sand on the world’s beaches and deserts.⁴

This conclusion has a striking similarity to the declaration of the ancient prophet Enoch: “Were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations.”⁵

Given the vastness of God’s creations, it’s no wonder the great King Benjamin counseled his people to “always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness.”⁶

We Are Greater Than We Suppose

But even though man is nothing, it fills me with wonder and awe to think that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”⁷

And while we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, “What is man in comparison to the glory of creation?” God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe! His work and glory—the purpose for this magnificent universe—is to save and exalt mankind.⁸ In other words, the vast expanse of eternity, the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me. Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters.

This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it.

The Folly of Pride

The great deceiver knows that one of his most effective tools in leading the children of God astray is to appeal to the extremes of the paradox of man. To some, he appeals to their prideful tendencies, puffing them up and encouraging them to believe in the fantasy of their own self-importance and invincibility. He tells them they have transcended the ordinary and that because of ability, birthright, or social status, they are set apart from the common measure of all that surrounds them. He leads them to conclude that they are therefore not subject to anyone else’s rules and not to be bothered by anyone else’s problems.

Abraham Lincoln is said to have loved a poem that reads:

Oh why should the spirit of mortal be proud?

Like a swift-flitting meteor, a fast-flying cloud,

A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,

Man passeth from life to his rest in the grave.⁹

Disciples of Jesus Christ understand that compared to eternity, our existence in this mortal sphere is only “a small moment” in space and time.¹⁰ They know that a person’s true value has little to do with what the world holds in high esteem. They know you could pile up the accumulated currency of the entire world and it could not buy a loaf of bread in the economy of heaven.

Those who will “inherit the kingdom of God”¹¹ are those who become “as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love.”¹² “For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”¹³ Such disciples understand also “that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”¹⁴

We Are Not Forgotten

Another way Satan deceives is through discouragement. He attempts to focus our sight on our own insignificance until we begin to doubt that we have much worth. He tells us that we are too small for anyone to take notice, that we are forgotten—especially by God.

Let me share with you a personal experience that may be of some help to those who feel insignificant, forgotten, or alone.

Many years ago I attended pilot training in the United States Air Force. I was far away from my home, a young West German soldier, born in Czechoslovakia, who had grown up in East Germany and spoke English only with great difficulty. I clearly remember my journey to our training base in Texas. I was on a plane, sitting next to a passenger who spoke with a heavy Southern accent. I could scarcely understand a word he said. I actually wondered if I had been taught the wrong language all along. I was terrified by the thought that I had to compete for the coveted top spots in pilot training against students who were native English speakers.

When I arrived on the air base in the small town of Big Spring, Texas, I looked for and found the Latter-day Saint branch, which consisted of a handful of wonderful members who were meeting in rented rooms on the air base itself. The members were in the process of building a small meetinghouse that would serve as a permanent place for the Church. Back in those days members provided much of the labor on new buildings.

Day after day I attended my pilot training and studied as hard as I could and then spent most of my spare time working on the new meetinghouse. There I learned that a two-by-four is not a dance step but a piece of wood. I also learned the important survival skill of missing my thumb when pounding a nail.

I spent so much time working on the meetinghouse that the branch president—who also happened to be one of our flight instructors—expressed concern that I perhaps should spend more time studying.

My friends and fellow student pilots engaged themselves in free-time activities as well, although I think it’s safe to say that some of those activities would not have been in alignment with today’s For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. For my part, I enjoyed being an active part of this tiny west Texas branch, practicing my newly acquired carpentry skills, and improving my English as I fulfilled my callings to teach in the elders quorum and in Sunday School.

At the time, Big Spring, despite its name, was a small, insignificant, and unknown place. And I often felt exactly the same way about myself—insignificant, unknown, and quite alone. Even so, I never once wondered if the Lord had forgotten me or if He would ever be able to find me there. I knew that it didn’t matter to Heavenly Father where I was, where I ranked with others in my pilot training class, or what my calling in the Church was. What mattered to Him was that I was doing the best I could, that my heart was inclined toward Him, and that I was willing to help those around me. I knew if I did the best I could, all would be well.

And all was well.¹⁵

The Last Shall Be First

The Lord doesn’t care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use—in His own way and for His holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him.

God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good.¹⁶

One such couple, parents of a friend of mine, exemplify this principle for me. The husband worked at a steel mill in Utah. At lunch he would pull out his scriptures or a Church magazine and read. When the other workers saw this, they ridiculed him and challenged his beliefs. Whenever they did, he spoke to them with kindness and confidence. He did not allow their disrespect to make him angry or upset.

Years later one of the more vocal mockers became very ill. Before he died, he requested that this humble man speak at his funeral—which he did.

This faithful member of the Church never had much in the way of social status or wealth, but his influence extended deeply to all who knew him. He died in an industrial accident while stopping to help another worker who was stranded in the snow.

Within a year his widow had to undergo brain surgery, which has left her unable to walk. But people love coming to spend time with her because she listens. She remembers. She cares. Unable to write, she memorizes her children’s and grandchildren’s telephone numbers. She lovingly remembers birthdays and anniversaries.

Those who visit her come away feeling better about life and about themselves. They feel her love. They know she cares. She never complains but spends her days blessing the lives of others. One of her friends said this woman was one of the few people she had ever known who truly exemplifies the love and life of Jesus Christ.

This couple would have been the first to say they were not of much importance in this world. But the Lord uses a scale very different from the world’s to weigh the worth of a soul. He knows this faithful couple; He loves them. Their actions are a living witness of their strong faith in Him.

You Matter to Him

My dear brothers and sisters, it may be true that man is nothing in comparison to the greatness of the universe. At times we may even feel insignificant, invisible, alone, or forgotten. But always remember—you matter to Him! If you ever doubt that, consider these four divine principles:

First, God loves the humble and meek, for they are “greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”¹⁷

Second, the Lord entrusts “the fulness of [His] gospel [to] be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world.”¹⁸ He has chosen “the weak things of the world [to] come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones”¹⁹and to put to shame “the things which are mighty.”²⁰

Third, no matter where you live, no matter how humble your circumstances, how meager your employment, how limited your abilities, how ordinary your appearance, or how little your calling in the Church may appear to you, you are not invisible to your Heavenly Father. He loves you. He knows your humble heart and your acts of love and kindness. Together, they form a lasting testimony of your fidelity and faith.

Fourth and finally, please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him.²¹ Have hope and faith in that promise. Learn to love your Heavenly Father and become His disciple in word and in deed.

Be assured that if you but hold on, believe in Him, and remain faithful in keeping the commandments, one day you will experience for yourselves the promises revealed to the Apostle Paul: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”²²

Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love.

God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him.

May we ever believe, trust, and align our lives so that we will understand our true eternal worth and potential. May we be worthy of the precious blessings our Heavenly Father has in store for us is my prayer in the name of His Son, even Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2011 

Signs that your are dating the wrong guy

I was listening to a friend tell about her life with her ex-husband. If she only knew then (when she was dating him) what she knows now. Most of the times, what couples overlook in their relationship that is not going so well is the fact that they need to draw a line between determination and desperation. You cannot make them care unless they want to by heart.

 

They are too busy to give you time

Time, when once given, cannot be taken back. Partners always give each other time in a relationship, a way of showing their care and love for each other.  your partner tells you they are too busy and will not be able to spare a couple of hours to come home and have lunch with you – they’ve already lost the care card. Partners always give each other enough time in a relationship in order to show that they care and love each other.

 

They are indecisive

If they are keep on playing the cat and mouse game, the moment you give up, they are all into the relationship, when you call it quits, they will begin to think of getting back together.

 

Stop letting them take such grave advantage of you and let them know relationships are not determined by such cliché aspects like coming and going when one wants to.

 

You get to have a say in it too. If they cannot accept this fact, then it is you who needs to leave for sure because clearly, whether you leave or stay is of no such concern to them.

They make themselves the focus of attention

While you are making sure about your partner’s needs, desire, and such to be met accordingly, it eventually leaves no room for you and all the things that you are doing for their “me-world.’

This is a major sign that they do not care about you nor the relationship to make it a part of their happiness.

 

Even if you did not do something grand for them, they would still take your hand and have you walk with them on every path of life.

They put the blame on you

Even if it is not actually your fault, your partner will always blame you for both of little and big things in your everyday life together.

They do not care enough about the healthy course your relationship can and should take and so, putting blames on you becomes habitual to them because holding someone else accountable for their own actions is easier to fulfil, is it not?

 

They treat you arrogantly

There is nothing cool about treating other people below, so if your partner acts in such this way where they are using their high rank,

charm or power just to bring you down in any way, then it is definite sight that they do not care enough to protect your feelings.

You know that homily feeling you get when you’re with your significant other? That feeling of security and stability’s among the first bricks to put in any relationship.

Being disrespectful to you

All of the things that are important and have value to you should be respected and cared for by those people around you too but only those who deeply care about you. What can actually make you would make them happy as well.

But if your sweetheart shows disrespect for the things that matter to you, then you do not need to stay with such a person who cannot treat the things you so value with equal respect.

They are not supportive

There is no good in being with someone who does not have your back. Support to a relationship is what water is to plants; it makes the other grow.

Support is a whole lot more that saying the same things that you are about to say, going to the same places as you date and hangout with the same group of people.

 

They will treat you like an outsider

If you are a way ahead of your relationship and yet you still have not met their parents or gotten to know if they have any siblings and other personal things,

just take it as a sign that they are not that serious about the relationship that you have

You are with them yet they make you feel like an outsider. It is a fake concept you are following blindly and so, you need to stop and set your priorities straight.

They make you feel worthless.

Being with somebody who only sees the darkness of life is not good for you.

Even if you have stopped believing in the greater good, they should still show you the optimistic side of things because that would make you feel better.

Being with someone who only sees the darkness of life isn’t healthy for you. Even if you stop believing in the greater good, they ought to show you the optimistic side of things as that would make you feel better.

 

Their apologies do not mean anything

“Sorry” is just a word not until somebody will come along and will give a meaning to it. Your partner will commit the same things that they would later be sorry for, or will they?

Care and thought has to be put into an apology and it does not mean anything if not enough care is put into it.

Being with such a person can be very damaging for you, someone who does not care about what they do or say that you may dislike and then not having the decency to apologize for it in earnest either.

They try to change you

You have actually stopped feeling yourself anymore every time that you are with them. If your partner really cares about you,

they would not try to change you, as a matter of fact; they often do the opposite so that you will enjoy a healthy relationship.

But a careless partner makes you change yourself in so many ways, you feel exhausted.

All sex, no love

You should not be involved physically with anyone who you are not married to by the way but some do, you will actually know when your partner literally stops caring about you and your relationships when they only engage themselves in the physical aspect

and do not pay that much attention to your feelings, as well as the respect that you deserve from them.

Love isn’t defined by something as mediocre as sex; that’s just a part of the relationship, not the whole thing.

They begin to cheat on you

Loyalty is said to be in a relationship when you deeply care enough for that person, but if not, you can easily jump to the next one.

If your partner actually cares about taking the relationship to a serious level, they will never go and cheat on you. It’s only when they stop caring or lose their interest in you and the relationship that they waste their time with someone else.

 

No efforts was made to protect you

Not protecting you or at least trying to do so would actually mean your partner will not fight for you and the relationship, once they lose interest in it.

If your partner lets little obstacles come in the way of your relationship, they don’t deserve your time.

If they did, they’d want to fight for the bond you two share, not throwing it away when things get rough.

 They do not bother remembering what you say

When we really care about the person who is speaking, we earnestly listen to them. When we do not care, we are just hearing things out.

It might be something you said last week or just a couple of minutes ago…if your partner does not even bother recalling it,

much less keeping it in mind despite your emphasis on how important that thing is to you then take it as a sign they do not care enough for you nor their relationship with you to listen to what you say.

They make you cry more than often

When your partner hurts you and makes you cry then don’t bother to come and make sure that you are fine, could they be more careless and not serious about your relationship?

When your partner doesn’t pay much heed into being with you and at least trying to maintain the relationship with you, they’ll keep all the good stuff for themselves and not bother including you in any of it.

Being together means doing all the fun things together too but if they don’t care at all, why would it even matter to them that you are out there with them enjoying some happy moments?

They have it all to themselves

Whether it is going out in a Saturday night or planning a trip with friends together, when your partner does not play much attention in into being with you and at least trying to keep the relationship with you,

they will keep all of the good things for themselves and they will not bother to include you in any of it.

Wanting all the good things for themselves steals your partner’s ability to compromise with you too, because that would mean you getting some of that good stuff every once in a while too.

They have commitment issues

You have to realize that it wasn’t about you; it’s all about the other person wants. If your partner has fear of committing to a relationship, they will not really mind wherever the relationship is going.

You’ll know your partner has lost interest in the relationship when you feel like you don’t know them anymore because their lack of commitment will leave you questioning their place in the situation. You’ll know instantly they aren’t worthy of your love and effort when they turn your good days into bad ones. Bottom line, be aware of selfish psychopath people. 

con amor

Vero

What Awesome Looks Like

I just got done reading the book "What Awesome Looks Like. How to excel in Business and Life" by Author Amy Rees Anderson which was published last year.  In today’s blog post I thought it would be fun to share some excerpts of her book with you. Today I’ll be sharing her intro to the book Enjoy! 

 

I get it. You’re busy. We’re all busy. I mean, seriously, who even has time to read a book these days? I’ve got attention deficit disorder (ADD) myself, so if a book doesn’t have big print and pictures I am typically out unless there is a genuinely compelling argument why I should be in … so here goes:

 

I am an ordinary person who was able to accomplish something extraordinary. I became an entrepreneur when I started my very first tech company at age twenty-three, and, at forty, as founder and CEO, I sold MediConnect Global Inc. for over $377 million cash. BOOYAH!

 

How did I do it? The answers to that question might surprise you. They aren’t the answers they typically teach in college courses, but that would make sense since I dropped out of college—not because I didn’t value education; I just couldn’t afford to finish back then—however, I did go on to receive an honorary PhD, so feel free to call me “Dr. Amy,” since my family refuses to (at least not with a straight face).

 

Early on, I learned most things the hard way—trying, failing, learning from my mistakes, and trying again with the wisdom I’d gained. I went from bouncing so many checks at age seventeen they had to fly my father in to meet with the bank’s president, sinking a ski boat, spending hundreds of dollars on a snow shovel, and typing clients’ data into the computer manually because I didn’t know data could be transferred electronically—to having an investor hand me a check for a million dollars based on my word alone, leading the development of complex web-based software systems, raising two children as a single mom and sole financial supporter, selling a company for $377 million, launching an angel investment firm, founding a charity to promote entrepreneurship as a pathway to self-reliance, and accomplishing every goal I’ve ever glued to my Goal Posters.

 

Along that journey I learned invaluable lessons, but I realized that if I wanted those experiences to benefit others, I would have to share them. So as CEO I began writing a daily blog to my employees. Interestingly enough, the more I shared in a completely open, authentic way, the better our profit margin became.

 

After successfully selling the company, I continued writing my daily blog, now making it accessible to everyone in hopes of helping others excel even faster and easier than I did, which led to Forbes and the Huffington Post asking me to be a contributor to their sites, and eventually to ForbesBooks reaching out to me to write a book, and voila … here we are!

 

It’s lucky for you that I have ADD (yes, I take meds for it … no shame), because it helps me cover a lot of ground quickly, get right to the point, and be ALL KINDS OF FUN! Obviously, I won’t fit everything I’ve learned in this one book (especially if it’s going to fit the big print and pictures), but I’ve included several simple, tangible things that taught me WHAT AWESOME LOOKS LIKE! 

 

She is great! A wonderful book to give to anyone contemplating starting a business or improving their work environment.  

 

Con amor,

Vero

Don't worry, be happy

I love the quote: “Don’t count the days…make the days count.”  It is such a great reminder to stop counting the days until this or that happens, or until this or that gets done, and instead start focusing on making each day count as it is happening. That last one is one I need to work on the most!

 

All of us have worries and concerns in life. Things we fear. Things we are dreading. Worries about what “might” happen or what “might not” happen. It seems that there is a truly endless supply of things to spend our time being worried about. Yet, at the end of the day does the worrying do anything positive for us, at all?? The answer is a resounding NO!

 

We have to stop worrying about the “what ifs” and the “what if not’s” in our life.  For example, I worry that my mom and Daniel’s mom are getting older and have health issues and might leave us someday… but I can choose to spend every day worrying about the fact that they are getting older or I can instead choose to spend every day praying for them and calling them on the phone and visiting them whenever possible to spend time together. I could go on and think about all the things I can find to worry about every day and I am sure you could too – we all know in our heads the things we are stressing over – but stressing and worrying about them isn’t doing anything for us other than making us stressed out and worried!

 

A reminder to everyone, (but mostly a reminder to myself today):  Don’t spend your life worrying and stressing, instead just do your best and trust the Lord to do the rest. Embrace it. And don’t forget to smile! And do keep waiting to be happy until this happens or that doesn’t happen, instead, don’t worry, be Happy! 

 

Make the time you have count right now, this day.  I am grateful I was able to spend a few hours talking to my mom. I am so grateful for it. 

 

Con amor,

Vero

What My Parents Did For Me

Told me no when I wanted to go on sleep overs.

 

Only bought what they could afford during the war years. 

 

Allowed me to be me by letting me convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

Work ethic from the time I was sixteen when I got my first job. 

 

Love for good books. They had an amazing library. 

 

Forgiveness does not mean reconciliation.

 

Know who you are and stay true to yourself.

 

Despite their own volatile relationship, I knew they loved me. 

 

They taught me to work hard and live an honest caring life.

 

Gave me three little sisters.

 

My mom taught me that I was a strong independent woman who could do hard things. 

 

Allowed me to move away from home so I could meet many types of people and cultures.

 

My parents showed me to care about people with the same eyes that God sees them. And whatever you do, always go the extra mile and do your very best with a good attitude. 

 

To remember who you are and do the right thing. Choose honesty and never lie or cheat. Have integrity. Take control of being self -reliant. 

 

Those are the best things a parent can teach a child. 

 

Con amor,

Vero 

What Do You Need from a friend

Today was an incredible day. We got together with friends to have lunch and this article came to mind.

“What do I need from a friend? I don’t care if your house is a mess. I will move the laundry off the couch, sit down and help you fold it while we laugh about how much we hate putting the clean clothes away. I don’t care about your big, slobbering, rambunctious dog. I will accept his kisses and toss his tennis ball. It’s also fine that you don’t have any food in your fridge since I ate before I came anyway. I like your cheap chocolate and your microwave popcorn too.

I don’t care if you go out of the house looking like that or if you bought your purse at Payless or if every single piece of clothing you own came from the Goodwill. Likewise, if you shop exclusively at Neiman Marcus, I can handle that too. We will both survive if your roots are showing, if you have a weird mole, a hideous and regretful tattoo and if you’ve recently gained fifteen pounds and it shows because you are still wearing too tight of clothes.

I don’t care what you eat or don’t eat or if that is organic or even if it isn’t. I don’t care how you feed your children or if you let them sleep in your bed, push them in strollers, let them watch Sponge Bob or if you could only breastfeed for a week. I won’t judge if sometimes you are so tired that you give your children chicken nuggets for dinner, put on a Tinkerbell movie, pray they fall asleep early and take a nice bubble bath because you’re so tired and over it all. I have been there too and you know what? A few pampering and food dyes once in a while are not the end of the world.

If your child is fussy and throws a royal fit when we are out in public, I don’t care. We all have bad days and of course I will hold your baby while you take the toddler to the bathroom only to find that he has already peed his pants.

I don’t care if you have a dead-end job or if you haven’t yet found your passion. It doesn’t matter to me if you go to yoga twice a day or church once every three or four years and only to make your grandmother happy. One day you will finish your novel or start your business and I will be there clapping and grinning and shouting with joy at your success even if we are ninety-seven by the time you get there.

You can cry to me. Tell me about how silly your spouse has been and how your mother won’t stop tearing into you about each and every little thing and how sometimes you wish you could just get in the car and start driving and leave everyone behind.  For a little while. I have these fantasies too. Mine involves staying at the Coronado Hotel in San Diego where I can sleep and order room service for three days straight while watching every silly show on TV that I can find.

It’s okay that you can’t cook and that you haven’t thrown me a fancy dinner party with homemade bread that you saw on Pinterest. We can get takeout. There’s this amazing, little, cheap Thai place on the corner. You’ll love it.

I don’t think you’re a loser because you made a stupid mistake and lost your job and now you fry chicken for a living. I’m proud that you went back to school and followed your heart to finally get a degree in what you love instead of what your dad loved. Who cares if you’re fifty-nine when you graduate?

None of these things matter.

If we are friends, this is all I care about:

Are you kind?

I care that you are kind.

Do you mean well even when things don’t always work out? I care about that.

I care that you love, that you are friendly to little kids and servers in restaurants. I need you to be nice to animals, even if they are ugly and whether you choose to eat them.

I care that you don’t hurt with your hands or your words. I care that when you mess up, you admit it and that you can apologize sincerely, because of course, everyone makes a poor choice occasionally. We slip sometimes. The ability to recognize our wrongs are learn from them is more important than being perfect.

Your politics don’t matter to me. Your religion is insignificant, but I care that your words and actions aren’t based in hate. I care that you can tolerate people who are different. I care about empathy and compassion.

I care that in the midst of the noise and clutter of our messy lives, that in the tiny moments we find to connect there is meaning, there are smiles even through tears, that we part feeling just a little bit stronger, a little more hopeful.

That we are better off because of our friendship, that we are not alone – nothing else matters.”

I want my friends to know that I do care!

Con amor,

Vero 

 

Who Knew What Works

In an era of COVID-19 people have become more aware of germs. The Lysol products are scarce because they are in such great demand. I decided to look for other ways of cleaning and disinfecting, after reading this article I will never see a bottle of peroxide the same way again. 

 

“My friend has a friend whose dad is a doctor. She was over recently and smelled the bleach, I was using to clean my toilet and counter tops.

This is what I learned that day:
She says,
'I would like to tell you all of the benefits of that plain little ole bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drugstore. What does bleach cost?

Most doctors don't tell you about peroxide.

Have you ever smelled bleach in a doctor's office? NO!!! Why? Because it smells, and it is not healthy!

Ask the nurses who work in the doctor's offices, and ask them if they use bleach at home. They are wiser and know better!

Did you also know bleach was invented in the late '40s? It's chlorine, folks! And it was used to kill our troops.

Peroxide was invented during WWI.. It was used to save and help cleanse the needs of our troops and hospitals.

Please think about this:

1. Take one capful of hydrogen peroxide (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I am doing it when I bathe.) No more canker sores, and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash.

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters and table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. If you have fungus on your feet spray a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to 10 minutes several times a day. Her husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.

8. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold or plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes, and then blow your nose into a tissue.

9. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for 10 minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

10. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide-burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually, so it's not a drastic change.

11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help get rid of boils, fungus, or other skin infections.

12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour it directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

13. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors. There is no smearing, which is why I love it so much for this.

14. Another place it's great is in the bathroom, if someone has been careless, has peed on the floor around the toilet, and it's begun to smell of urine. Just put some peroxide in a spray bottle spray. In the blink of an eye all the smell will be gone and the bacteria eliminated! (I wish I’d known this years ago)

I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I'm glad there's a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner!

This information really woke me up.” 

 

Good to know. I will be using peroxide more. 

 

Con amor,

Vero

Sunday Sermon "We Can Do Better and Be Better"

Make your focus on daily repentance so integral to your life that you can exercise the priesthood with greater power than ever before.

My dear brethren, it is inspiring to look out over this vast congregation of the Lord’s battalion of priesthood bearers. What a mighty force for good you are! We love you. We pray for you. And we are most grateful for you.

Recently I have found myself drawn to the Lord’s instruction given through the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Say nothing but repentance unto this generation.”¹ This declaration is often repeated throughout scripture.² It prompts an obvious question: “Does everyone need to repent?” The answer is yes.

Too many people consider repentance as punishment—something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances. But this feeling of being penalized is engendered by Satan. He tries to block us from looking to Jesus Christ,³ who stands with open arms,⁴ hoping and willing to heal, forgive, cleanse, strengthen, purify, and sanctify us.

The word for repentance in the Greek New Testament is metanoeo. The prefix meta- means “change.” The suffix -noeo is related to Greek words that mean “mind,” “knowledge,” “spirit,” and “breath.”⁵

Thus, when Jesus asks you and me to “repent,”⁶ He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies.

Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.⁷

Whether you are diligently moving along the covenant path, have slipped or stepped from the covenant path, or can’t even see the path from where you are now, I plead with you to repent. Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance—of doing and being a little better each day.

When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him.⁸ When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ!⁹

Brethren, we need to do better and be better because we are in a battle. The battle with sin is real. The adversary is quadrupling his efforts to disrupt testimonies and impede the work of the Lord. He is arming his minions with potent weapons to keep us from partaking of the joy and love of the Lord.¹⁰

Repentance is the key to avoiding misery inflicted by traps of the adversary. The Lord does not expect perfection from us at this point in our eternal progression. But He does expect us to become increasingly pure. Daily repentance is the pathway to purity, and purity brings power. Personal purity can make us powerful tools in the hands of God. Our repentance—our purity—will empower us to help in the gathering of Israel.

The Lord taught the Prophet Joseph Smith “that the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.”¹¹

We know what will give us greater access to the powers of heaven. We also know what will hinder our progress—what we need to stop doing to increase our access to the powers of heaven. Brethren, prayerfully seek to understand what stands in the way of your repentance. Identify what stops you from repenting. And then, change! Repent! All of us can do better and be better than ever before.¹²

There are specific ways in which we can likely improve. One is in the way we treat our bodies. I stand in awe of the miracle of the human body. It is a magnificent creation, essential to our gradual ascent toward our ultimate divine potential. We cannot progress without it. In giving us the gift of a body, God has allowed us to take a vital step toward becoming more like Him.

Satan understands this. He chafes at the fact that his premortal apostasy permanently disqualifies him from this privilege, leaving him in a constant state of jealousy and resentment. Thus many, if not most, of the temptations he puts in our path cause us to abuse our bodies or the bodies of others. Because Satan is miserable without a body, he wants us to be miserable because of ours.¹³

Your body is your personal temple, created to house your eternal spirit.¹⁴ Your care of that temple is important. Now, I ask you, brethren, are you more interested in dressing and grooming your body to appeal to the world than to please God? Your answer to this question sends a direct message to Him about your feelings regarding His transcendent gift to you. In this reverence for our bodies, brethren, I think we can do better and be better.

Another way we can also do better and be better is how we honor the women in our lives, beginning with our wives and daughters, our mothers and sisters.¹⁵

Months ago, I received a heartbreaking letter from a dear sister. She wrote: “[My daughters and I] feel we are in fierce competition for our husbands’ and sons’ undivided attention, with 24/7 sports updates, video games, stock market updates, [and] endless analyzing and watching of games of every [conceivable] sport. It feels like we’re losing our front-row seats with our husbands and sons because of their permanent front-row seats with [sports and games].”¹⁶

Brethren, your first and foremost duty as a bearer of the priesthood is to love and care for your wife. Become one with her. Be her partner. Make it easy for her to want to be yours. No other interest in life should take priority over building an eternal relationship with her. Nothing on TV, a mobile device, or a computer is more important than her well-being. Take an inventory of how you spend your time and where you devote your energy. That will tell you where your heart is. Pray to have your heart attuned to your wife’s heart. Seek to bring her joy. Seek her counsel, and listen. Her input will improve your output.

If you have a need to repent because of the way you have treated the women closest to you, begin now. And remember that it is your responsibility to help the women in your life receive the blessings that derive from living the Lord’s law of chastity. Never be the reason that a woman is unable to receive her temple blessings.

Brethren, we all need to repent. We need to get up off the couch, put down the remote, and wake up from our spiritual slumber. It is time to put on the full armor of God so we can engage in the most important work on earth. It is time to “thrust in [our] sickles, and reap with all [our] might, mind, and strength.”¹⁷ The forces of evil have never raged more forcefully than they do today. As servants of the Lord, we cannot be asleep while this battle rages.

Your family needs your leadership and love. Your quorum and those in your ward or branch need your strength. And all who meet you need to know what a true disciple of the Lord looks like and acts like.

My dear brethren, you were chosen by our Father to come to earth at this crucial time because of your premortal spiritual valor. You are among the finest, most valiant men who have ever come to the earth. Satan knows who you are and who you were premortally, and he understands the work that must be done before the Savior returns. And after millennia of practicing his cunning arts, the adversary is experienced and incorrigible.

Gratefully, the priesthood we hold is far stronger than are the wiles of the adversary. I plead with you to be the men and young men the Lord needs you to be. Make your focus on daily repentance so integral to your life that you can exercise the priesthood with greater power than ever before. This is the only way you will keep yourself and your family spiritually safe in the challenging days ahead.

The Lord needs selfless men who put the welfare of others ahead of their own. He needs men who intentionally work to hear the voice of the Spirit with clarity. He needs men of the covenant who keep their covenants with integrity. He needs men who are determined to keep themselves sexually pure—worthy men who can be called upon at a moment’s notice to give blessings with pure hearts, clean minds, and willing hands. The Lord needs men eager to repent—men with a zeal to serve and be part of the Lord’s battalion of worthy priesthood bearers.

I bless you to become those men. I bless you with the courage to repent daily and learn how to exercise full priesthood power. I bless you to communicate the love of the Savior to your wife and children and to all who know you. I bless you to do better and be better. And I bless you that as you make these efforts, you will experience miracles in your life.

We are engaged in the work of Almighty God. Jesus is the Christ. We are Their servants. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.