Another startling insight emerges from the paradigm of preexistence. If it is true that “Man was also in the beginning with God,” that “Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be,” then we have an eternal past. And if we have an eternal past, then humans—like God—inhabit a universe that has always existed. The implications of this view are nothing short of shattering, fraught with possibilities that are simultaneously heady and humbling. It would suggest the possibility that “God, angels and men are all of one species.” Our ancestry and potential are rooted in a divine pattern.

“If we have not existed before birth; . . . then there are no grounds for supposition that we shall continue to exist after our existence has apparently ceased.” Percy Shelle

Awesome Dancing Connor!

We must think and feel for ourselves

As for the question of what is or is not revelation, the answer is simple. People just don’t like to hear it. . . . D&C 68:4 says: “And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.” There’s your answer and, in terms of simple language, it’s not hard to understand. The problem is that it doesn’t do what people want. What people want is to be absolved of responsibility. They want a formula, a rulebook, or an oracle to which they can defer tough questions. God says: “If you want to know if it’s scripture or not, you’re going to have to have your own connection to the Holy Ghost sufficient to figure that out.” In other words: “The burden is on you.” People say: “That sounds like hard work. Please give us a cheat sheet.” . . . And, when God refuses to give out a cheat sheet, people just invent one. They invent doctrines of prophetic or scriptural inerrancy or sufficiency or infallibility, all of which serve more or less the exact same purpose as the original golden calf: a simulacrum of the divine that doesn’t ask us to do any genuine hard work.

We're Just Friends "Dating"

Isaac and Kiley are reaching the ripe old age of "I can almost Date"! I hope that they will remember their Mom and Dad's standards. And that they will remember the Plan Heavenly Father has set for them. 

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The Atonement

The Atonement is not a backup plan in case we happen to fall short in the process; it is the ordained means whereby we gradually become complete and whole, in a sin-strewn process of sanctification through which our Father patiently guides us.

T. Givens

Absolutely

TRUTH

I've read this book from cover to cover 4 times. I am very well read. I've read every religious book I can get my hands on. I've read countless books about religious books. I've read every anti Mormon book I can find. How can anyone discount a book as a lie if they have never read it. READ IT. Decide for yourself!!!! Don't take MY word for it.... Don't take the HATERS word for it. READ IT AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. I know with all my heart that it is the WORD OF GOD!

Search your Hearts and FIND THE TRUTH

Given the reality of the Resurrection of Christ, repentance of any violation of His law and commandments is both possible and urgent. The Savior’s miracles were real, as is His promise to His disciples that they might do the same and even greater works. His priesthood is necessarily a real power that “administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.” Given the reality of the Resurrection of Christ, death is not our end, and though “skin worms destroy [our bodies], yet in [our] flesh shall [we] see God.”

click at your own risk

Is God Real? Is The Book of Mormon true?

Temple Worthy

All 3 of my babies are walking into a Temple tomorrow. Awesome!!! The Ogden Temple was the first Temple I was ever in too!!

Sometimes We Must Disappoint

What the world really needs is courageous parenting from mothers and fathers who are not afraid to speak up and take a stand.

May I express my personal warning about a practice that is common in many cultures. I am referring to sleepovers, or spending the night at the home of a friend. As a bishop I discovered that too many youth violated the Word of Wisdom or the law of chastity for the first time as part of a sleepover. Too often their first exposure to pornography and even their first encounter with the police occurred when they were spending the night away from home.

Peer pressure becomes more powerful when our children are away from our influence and when their defenses are weakened late at night. If you have ever felt uneasy about an overnight activity, don’t be afraid to respond to that warning voice inside. Always be prayerful when it comes to protecting your precious children.

Larry R. Lawrence

Of the Seventy

The only way

The call to faith, in this light, is not some test of a coy god, waiting to see if we “get it right.” It is the only summons, issued under the only conditions, which can allow us fully to reveal who we are, what we most love, and what we most devoutly desire. Without constraint, without any form of mental compulsion, the act of belief becomes the freest possible projection of what resides in our hearts.

"Terryl Lynn Givens"

Things as they really are????

Just got home from a long boring evening of learning Finance. So exciting. As soon as I get home I jump on Facebook same as I do every every day (sometimes 3 times a day). Same thing different day. Never really changes. It amazes me how little growth takes place. Don't get me wrong, everything is always changing but for the most part, everything stays the same?? If you have 4 minutes to scroll through your Facebook feed then you have 4 minutes to watch this video and be honest with yourself.........

Bednar

The Ever Present Raven

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Raven

 By Edgar Allan Poe
 

 Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

    While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

“’Tis some visiter,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—Only this and nothing more.”

    Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

    Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow

    From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

            Nameless here for evermore.

    And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

    So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

    “’Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door—

Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door;—

            This it is and nothing more.”

    Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

    But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

    And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;—

            Darkness there and nothing more.

    Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

    But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

    And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?”

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”—

            Merely this and nothing more.

    Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

    “Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;

      Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—

            ’Tis the wind and nothing more!”

    Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

    Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

    But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—

            Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,

“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”

            Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

    Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;

    For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

    Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door—

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

            With such name as “Nevermore.”

    But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

    Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—

    Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before—

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.”

            Then the bird said “Nevermore.”

    Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store

    Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

    Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore

            Of ‘Never—nevermore’.”

    But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;

    Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

    Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore

            Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”

    This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;

    This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining

    On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er,

But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er,

            She shall press, ah, nevermore!

    Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.

    “Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee

    Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”

            Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

    “Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

    Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—

    On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—

Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!”

            Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

    “Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—

    Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,

    It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”

            Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

    “Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting—

“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!

    Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

    Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”

            Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

    And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

    And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,

    And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

            Shall be lifted—nevermore!

To Nap Or Not To Nap

Connor's afternoon nap turned into a 3 hour affair. Guess he will be pretty lonely tonight as the wrest of us go to sleep now. 

Remembering September 11, 2001

I know this is now a day late, but I was thinking about this earlier. I had seen a lot of posts on social media asking, "where were you 13 years ago, what were you doing, and so on".

I will never forget that day. I was about 3 months pregnant with Isaac. I had the worst morning sickness ever! I remember we had a meeting at work at about 7 am. Cordell drove me to the meeting. I remember the TVs being on in the waiting rooms and the news was on. I didn't pay attention, I was just trying to make it to my meeting and not throw up. I get down to the room where the meeting was at and one of the nuclear medicine technologist said that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I couldn't believe it. I thought he was just talking about a little twin engine airplane. I remember thinking, "I hope everybody is ok." We went on with our meeting. It lasted about an hour or so. I called Cordell to tell him we were done so he could come get me. As I was going back through the waiting room I noticed a lot of people gathered around the TVs. I saw the images of the smoking towers. I did not fully comprehend what was going on. I was a little nervous. I got out to the car and Cordell had the radio on. It was then that I learned that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon. I started crying. I knew that we were being attacked on our own soil and we were now at war. They had hit our military headquarters. I was so sick. We got home and turned on the TV. There were images from the Middle East showing young people celebrating in the streets. They were happy that over 3000 Americans had just died in a brutal attack. It literally made me sick. My morning sickness was bad enough, but seeing the towers on fire, the Pentagon on fire with a huge gaping hole and later the towers collapsing, was more than I could take. I threw up so much that day. I was so scared. How could I bring a child into this world? What was it going to be like for my son? I cried. I thought about my grandma and grandpa. My grandpa was in the Korean War. I thought that my grandma probably had the same thoughts and feelings after they got married and started having kids. I'm sure every parent has had these same thoughts. So, I called my grandma and talked with her. She is an amazing women. It helped me a lot talking with her about how scared I was. She reassured me that things would turn out the way they were supposed to.

It was amazing to see our country come together as a nation and stand together after that horrific attack. I still get teary when I think about that day and watch the video from that day. It is one of those thing that will never be erased from my memory. I know I will never forget, and I hope that we as a country will never forget and will try and somehow come together as we did in the days following the attack.







Dawn

Connor's exciting day!

Connor had such an exciting last Friday. He loves the "Janitors" books by Tyler Whitesides. Well, last Friday he got to go to the book launch for the fourth janitors book. He was super excited. Cordell took Connor to this because Kiley was doing her celebrate America thing and Isaac wanted to go watch the celebrate America show. Connor and Cordell got to spend some good quality time together and see this awesome show for the launch of the fourth book. There were a lot of people there. There was a concert to start off the show. They had different characters from the books that came out on the stage and do different things. Connor thought that was the coolest thing. He even brought home some souvenir toilet paper from a toilet paper launcher that they had, because of course they are janitors have to clean up the garbage. They stood in line in for a while and bought a book, then went to another line, bought some posters and bookmarks, and then they stood in line for the autographs. I think Connor was really excited to be able to meet Tyler Whitesides and get his book autographed by him. He's been reading it ever since he got it. I'm glad that he was able to have such an awesome experience and got to share that with his dad.





- Dawn

Celebrate America

This past week was a very busy week for Kiley. An Tùs Nua was asked to be apart of the production, Celebrate America, this last week. It was the 15th anniversary of the production. This year they took a look back at America. They started with the immigrants coming to America and all the opportunity they had here, then went through the depression, to WWII and then ended in the 1950's. They had an Irish immigrant who talked about coming to America and the about their dancing. An Tùs Nua was asked to represent the Irish dancers. Kiley's dance teacher asked her if she would do a solo and then the Troupe would come out and do their dance. They had performances September 2-6. That's a lot of performances. They did awesome and got better every night. Kiley did such a great job. It was held in the ball room at the Tagert student center at USU. The first two nights were student outreach to the music programs around the valley. Then they had a dinner, show and dance after the show. The last two nights it looked like they had sold out. We stayed and watched the show on Friday. Isaac came with me so he could see it. He really liked it. The money that was raised went to the Utah Honor Flight. Kiley had such a fun time. I'm so happy she has had so many wonderful opportunities through Irish dance.













Dawn

Wedding bells

My awesome sister-in-law got married on August 2. She asked if Kiley would be one of her flower girls and asked Isaac and Connor if they would be her ring bearers. They of course were so excited to be in her wedding. Kiley offered to play a song on her viola for Miranda and Ellis. Miranda picked out a couple of songs that she liked and had. Kiley choose which one she could play. So, she played "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. She did an awesome job. Miranda had asked if I would be one of her bridesmaids and I said that I would be honored to. It was a beautiful wedding. She looked absolutely gorgeous! Cordell's mom made all the little girls' dresses, the boys' shirts and the headbands for the girls. They were so cute! All the kids did such a good job and were well behaved for being there for 12 hours! I was very impress with them all. Here are a few pictures from the wedding.















Dawn

It's been a long time!

Wow! It's been a long time since we have posted on the blog! A lot has happened since March. Isaac turned 12. What!? When did he get to be 12! Time is flying way too fast! I do have to say he is turning into a handsome young man.






Isaac end of 6th grade








Summer at the Clarkston parade

I think he looks good with his hair long and shaggy. He likes it too, says that the girls like it that way 😜. He did great in 6th grade. He is just like his mom when it comes to procrastinating though. Frustrating! I'm hoping he will be better in 7th grade, but it's not looking that way so far ☺️. He is a great kid! We live in a neighborhood where he is the oldest kid. We have tons of little kids and they look up to him. They follow him around like little puppies and want to play with him, which he does. He is so good with kids. Because of this, he has had the opportunity to earn some money and babysit a few times. It's great that the other parents also see how responsible he is and trust him to take good care of their kids. Isaac is a great example to everyone around him.

Kiley just turned 11 a couple of weeks ago and started 6th grade and is now in middle school! It is so weird having 2 kids in middle school! She is turning into a beautiful young woman and has the sweetest spirit. She received the Hope of America given out to 5th graders at the end of the year. Two 5th graders are picked from each class for this award. They have to show excellence in learning and leadership.






Hope of America and Leadership award 5th grade

She continues to do Irish dance and is advancing quickly in her dances. She now gets to wear the solo dress for her Feis (competition in Irish). She was also chosen to be on the Jr. Troupe team this year and gets to perform in the Wicked Jig in October at the Ellen Eccles Theater!






Cowboy State Feis August 2014

As you can see Connor is still doing Irish dance also. He has been doing a great job and is also advancing in his dances. He got his first, 1st place medal in a dance at the Cowboy State Feis in Casper, Wyoming on August 23. He was so excited. He got 4 medals in that Feis. He is always pushing himself to do better.


Cowboy State Feis August 2014, medals and fun!



Connor is in 3rd grade now. He is all by himself at elementary school. They just started a student counsel at the school this year, and Connor was chosen to be on it for the 3rd grade. He is so excited about it. They had their first student counsel meeting this week. I think he will do an excellent job. He is such a good kid and loves gaming. He is always talking about new games coming out and what he would like to play. He wants to learn how to program. I've found a few games and websites that teach kids how to program, but he says that he doesn't like them. He wants to type the codes in himself. If anybody out there knows of a website or whatever to teach him this let me know. I think he would love it.

He is turning into a great kid. He is super smart and has a compassionate heart. He is our little goofball that loves to embarrass his brother and sister.



Time sure flies the older we get. I love my kids with all my heart and soul and am so blessed to have them in my life. I am also thankful for the knowledge that we will be together as an eternal family forever. I love my family!




First day of 7th grade


First day of 6th grade


First day of 3rd grade





Dawn

Funny girl

Dawn

Kiley NOVA Graduation

We have had another child successfully graduate from the NOVA program.  Kiley got a special badge for going 1 whole week with out electronic devices or TV.  It was pretty hard for her, but she made it through!  She learned a lot and loved all the stories the detective would tell them.

Christmas Concerts

I realized that I haven't posted anything about Isaac and Kiley's Christmas concerts!  I have been such a slacker on the blog. Sorry.  They both had their concerts in December.  For Isaac it was his second concert of the school year.  You could really hear the improvement from the previous concert.  Here is some video from that concert for your enjoyment.

Kiley did a great job in her concert also.  The kids sure learn a lot in such a short amount of time!  unfortunately I forgot to bring my Ipad to record her concert, but let me just tell you that they did a great job.

A day at the mall!!!!!!

Today mom took us to the mall today. She took us to the mall today to  spend our 50$ that we got from great grandma and grampa chapman. So, Isaac got a Pokemon perle for dsi. He also got a 49ers hat. Connor got 3 games. He got oo7 quantum of solace, Namco museum for dsi, and wipeout. All of these games are for dsi. I (Kiley) got my ears pierced. I got them pierced at Clairs I got red earrings. I can't take then out for two months. Here are some pictures of us with our things that we got. Thank you grandma and grandpa for the 50$. Thank you mom for taking us to the mall!

Shutterfly book for Kiley

I made Kiley a book from Shutterfly about her first year of Irish dance. She loved it when she opened it for Christmas.  Here is the link to view it.  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbNGjNoxcNnKw&emid=sharepbsharer&linkid=link5&cid=SHAR-PBAPP. Hope you enjoy it as much as I had making it.