What's needful?

The first principle of the gospel is faith. Nt just faith, but faith in Jesus Christ.

Recently I heard Elder Bednar say we often hear it said that Joseph Smith went to pray and find out which church is true. But that is incomplete he went to find out which church is true that he might know which to join.

He was passing for guidance so yay he could act. Faith is an action. "Faith without works is dead."

[Ether 12:13],  It was the faith of Alma and Amulek which caused the walls of the prison to be rent, as recorded [in Alma 14:23-29]; it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi which caused a change to be wrought upon the hearts of the Lamanites, when they were immersed with the Holy Spirit and with fire, as seen [in Helaman 5:37-50]; and that it was by faith the mountain Zerin was removed when the brother of Jared spake in the name of the Lord. See also [Ether 12:30].

If we want to go biblical, in the old testament Moses passing the Red Sea, and his predecessor Aaron, I believe, parting the river _______. In the New Testament Peter walking on the water.

All of these are examples of great miracles that happened because of great faith.  According to the law of witnesses, there needs to at least two witnesses to show something is a true principle.

Personal example: On my mission I was studying in D&C where I learned that if w are 100% obedient we can ask the Lord something and he will give it to us, as long as it is a righteous desire and of course not taking away someone's agency.

So in orde to be 100% obedient with the mission rules, my companion had to be too. She was drinking mate, which was against the mission rules. After reading that scripture I shared it with her abs testified that if we were obedient 100% then we would be blessed with the thing we desired.

We wanted to have Gerardo get baptized.

Now Gerardo had a wife named Carilina who was a recent convert to the church. She had more faith than anyone I know. She wanted more than anything else for her husband to accept the gospel.  He was a smoker.  She prayed fervantly for his change of heart daily. She believed without doubt that it would happen. She just knew she had to be patient, pray, study the scriptures and everything about the gospel and could get her hands on. (She asked for a copy of preach my gospel.) She was an amazing example of someone who wanted to truly learn. She was on fire and in love with learning.

This too comes by fasting and prayer. Some things require both prayer and fasting.

We felt inspired to invite him to be baptized after a couple of discussions. He said he would think about it.

He decided to quit smoking. He was baptized.

Conclusions to be drawn.

Our ancestors help us so that our family we be soften to the gospel.

It is easier for people to have a change of heart join the church in this lifetime.

We need the faith necessary. We need to hope, pray, and fast. We need to actively think about and desire that our loved ones will come to the fold.

Parenting: A House United

Nicholeen Peck helps save families. That is her mission in life. To liberate the captive.  She teaches the principles that are necessary to have a strong family everything that the prophets and apostles teach, but for those who are at the line upon line level.

Sometimes we are doing the scripture study, prayer, and Family Home Evening but we don't know how to do it without contention. When we are at this level and we don't understand why our kids don't obey. We can teach correct principles like obedience through her for basic skills. I highly recommend her book parenting a house united.  For me it is truly a classic because the epiphany rate per page is very high -especially if you read the scriptures along side it!  Then you can connect it to the doctrine yourself. I.E. the 4 keys of self government are translated by me to be: Ask, Seek, Knock then the missing link is Act Delibetately.  You can also add it to Search, Ponder, Pray then Act deliberately or follow the spirit.

It is truly profound. When I didn't know what to do with my childs behaviors she helped me because calm and change my tone by first changing my heart. Then my children's hearts were change by example.

Our sphere if influence starts with us, then goes too our families, the our communities, then our governments. Like a ripple effect. 

We must all first understand our roles our missions in this life then we can help save our family and then other families!

"If ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Make time daily to be inspired by the spirit of God. Then you can inspire those in your sphere of influence!!!!

Monsters

We got together and everybody did lacing, to help with their fine motor skills, while I set up and got organized.

We reviewed the Give me 5 posters  ro preteach and remind them to stay on task.

We read Porter Earns a Quarter by Nicholeen Peck. (It teaches the happiness plan of accepting a no answer.)

We sang Humpty Dumpty and they made him fall off of the flannel board wall.

We read Monster at the End of the Book.

We sang and did the actions for Going on a bear hunt.

we read The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and then we made a craft a puppet out of paper sacks.

And finally we read Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley and then we put the little flannel board pieces of the monster face up on the flannel board and pulled them down.

Twisters Unit Study

I led story time last week with 14 Children ages 3-7 story time. We did a unit study on twister tongue twisters tornadoes in all sorts of different weather.

When We Need A Physican

Nicholeen Peck ( http://www.parentingselfgovernment.com ) has an audio gem called "Hitting the Wall" where she shares and experience when she hit the wall.  She had been working on a project and had spend many many hours getting ready for it, when the process was thwarted by a bunch of data and edited video footage being corrupted.  Sometimes we hit the wall, but it is truly possible to break through the wall and conquer or fix the problem.  Sometimes with a paradigm shift or a change in perspective.  (In her case, A dear friend praying for her in the middle of the night.)  In Luke 1:37 says: "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

Oftentimes I want to volunteer and help others out, but if my bucket is empty, or I haven't chosen to put my children, I have nothing to give.  I start to get overwhelmed, because I feel inspired to do that.  But my priorities are not in check.

You also refer to this process in your presentation Expectation Traps, I learned from you the key is to stop and build your relationship with the people that matter, in my case my spouse and children.  Then and only then is your bucket full and are you able to give  

Rachel and Oliver DeMille refer to this principle a: You, Not Them.  When we spend the proper amount of time on our own study of scriptures, or core book etc, we automatically have things to teach our children.  It I seen this in action.  It's amazing.  It is like a puzzle.  In your study you find the corners.  And while talking/playing/being with your children, you are able to find the rest of the puzzle pieces!  (You may even realize that they were all upside down and need to flip them over first.)  Then the picture is more quickly and easier formed.  It is beautiful.

Matthew 16:25 says: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."  Everything lately in my life and with my mission to homeschool and be a mother sends me back to this principle!  Study and learning will help to keep myself whole. 

Jesus also said in Luke 5:31 " ... They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick."  If I am not keeping myself spiritually prepared, I am not whole and I will be in need of a physician aka: the power of Christ's atonement.  

None Dare Call it Conspiracy - By: Gary Allen - Book Review - notes

I was given a special blessing called a patriarchal blessing when I was younger.  This is something very sacred and special.  I wonder if it is like a birthright blessing given in the old testament? When giving me my blessing, my grandpa, a patriarch said: read from the best books words of wisdom. D&C 88:118-119 says: 118. "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." 119. "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;" The prophet said to get out of debt. Satan wants us to think that we are the exception. Except for a modest home and car. He will deter us and help us justify what is modest. Why should we get out of debt? We need to be anxiously engaged in getting out of debt!! Satan said he would buy up armies, navies, priests that oppress and drive blood and horror on the earth. How do we get epiphanies? We read from the best books! Attend the temple. How does the Lord speak to us if we do not have moments to ponder? How do we organize our thoughts if we don't not journal? Religion is taboo. Politics are taboo. We are emotionally attached to both. I remember people thinking not voting for Mitt Romney, and choosing neither the Democratic or Republican party was throwing away your vote. What if there was a spectrum that led us all in the same direction? What if the culprit was national debt? If our country going into debt, who own the internationally banks that will control the monarch/king/socialist/communist. How do you create communism again in an anti-communist nation? Erase the definition. How do you erase a definition? If you slowly change a definition. Buzz words. How do you control a nation? Control a national bank and get everyone into debt. Why do people get into debt because of vanity or supposed need. (Sometimes it is actual need.  But if we are self-reliant and wise with foresight would it be possible to avoid this?  Or change definitions of words and taboo subjects such as religion and . How do we fight this? Become educated. How do we become educated? What if Satan controlled our schools? Read from them best books? We know that the best books are scriptures. But what else? Find a mentor who emits the spirit  and read what they read, suggest, or recommend. Ezra Taft Benson recommended None Dare Call it Conspiracy by Gary Allen. Thought: the Nazi's burned books. Now we have digital books which can be hacked.

Lap Books

Websites with pre-done lap books:

http://www.handsofachild.com

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/Lapbooks_at_HSS.php

The Creation

Devotional: This morning we were reading about the Creation in the Old Testament story reader chapter 2.

Prayer:
Song to memorize:  Give said the little stream.
Scripture to Memorize: Matthew 25:40 (Future Moses 6:33)
Review memorized scriptures Moses 1:39, John 3:5,

We found a YouTube Video that teaches you how to memorize the 7 days or periods of the creation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj-t6nyGJEE

You can also memorize a scripture to go along with it.  They are memorizing Genisis 1:1.

Why Blog?

In the wee hours in the morning, after nursing my 2 month old son (child number 3), I couldn't go back to sleep because I couldn't stop thinking.

I was thinking about my mission in life.  Part of my mission in life is to be a mother and to prepare my children to become joyful adults.  I was also thinking about how the prophets have counseled us to keep a journal.

I know that I am supposed to help change the world for the better.

In my parenting, I have learned so many things, and I think it would be a wasted to let it stop with me. Nicholeen Peck teaches that "We read to teach, we write to learn."  I feel a gap in my learning, and in order to help me process all the information that I am receiving and organize it, I feel a strong need to organize all of this wisdom and information, especially if I want to go back and find it later.

So as I was lying in my bed pondering about life and what God wants for me to do with all of this knowledge and information that I am receiving, I felt inspired to write a blog. I have heard the prophets say that we should blog also. I think sometimes the hardest part about starting a blog is coming up with the name.  Well, let me tell you about providence.  I thought: Father if I am supposed to write a blog, what would I even call it?  And instantly the name:  "Prepare Every Needful Thing".  I laughed and thought, that was too easy.  I am sure it is taken anyway.  I keep thinking about it, and knew I needed to write it down so I wouldn't forget - and so that I could get back to sleep!  Well it of course was taken.  And prepare every needful thing and teaching didn't sound quite as cool and catchy, but personalizing it to an affirmation and commitment: I will prepare Every Needful Thing!

D&C 88:119 was my inspiration: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."