Flecks of Gold

What are you filling your pouch with?

General Conference

Conference weekend is one (ok, two) of my favorites weekends all year. Who doesn't love a chance to hear our Prophet and the apostles speak, teach, and instruct?? 

I love the peace that comes from listening and learning.

D&C 1:38 "

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."

If you do not, I invite you to listen today. There are 2 sessions- one at 10:00AM MST and one at 2:00PM MST. You can listen here or if in Utah, watch on KSL5 TV. 

Call Me Old-fashioned

Today's post is going to be a bit more...opinionated (and lengthy)...than usual, but I feel like I really need to share this opinion. I do not want to offend anyone, and I know opinions are going to differ. You are more than welcome to comment and share your opinion, but please be courteous.

There has been much in the media lately about LDS feminist movements (wearing pants to church, praying in General Conference, women holding the priesthood, etc.) I haven't paid much attention until the last couple of weeks. 

Call me old-fashioned, but it kind of bothers me.

I had never even thought about the fact that I wear a dress/skirt to church every week and that women have never prayed in General Conference. I honestly had never noticed these things. I have thought about the whole women and the priesthood thing but again, I have never cared that I don't have the priesthood. 

To be totally honest, I don't want it.

The more I have thought about this and talked about it with several different people it occurred to me as to WHY these things have never bothered me. 

(This is where Jessica's opinion comes into play. If you don't want to hear it, stop reading now. Don't say I didn't warn you.)

The Family: A Proclamation to the World states  that "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."

Men and women were placed on this earth for two very important, but very distinct reasons. Men are here to preside and protect. In the Church, they are given the priesthood to help them accomplish that goal. Women are here to have children, and to raise them in righteousness. 
HOWEVER!!! Neither of these things can be accomplished alone. 

As Elder M. Russell Ballard so eloquently stated in his conference address Saturday morning (to listen click here) neither gender can accomplish their job alone. 

"Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. In other words, in the eternal perspective both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by husband and wife."

The reason these things have never bothered me is because 
I BELIEVE THAT!!!! 

And I am 100% ok with that. I know that my purpose on this earth is to get married, have babies, and raise them in the gospel and there is NOTHING I want more. Yes, I have a career and yes, I LOVE my job. But I never expected, or wanted, to teach more than 5 or 6 years (10 at the most) because I want to be home with my children. 

And personally, I think thats where women should be, if possible...at HOME.

A friend and I have a joke about wanting nothing more than to be a 50's housewife- the cooking, the cleaning, the apron, the hot chocolate chip cookies, the dinner on the table when my husband gets home from work. 

That is the single greatest thing I could accomplish. 

EVER. 

Dear Boys #9

Dear Dr Seuss, 

I am hoping this week is an 

"absence makes the heart grow fonder" type thing.

Love, Jess

Dear Game Player, 

You should really ask my sister out. We are all in favor of this.

Love, Jess

Dear Dr. O, 

I always do everything I can to the best of my ability. However, I am supposed to be a teacher, not a computer tech, yearbook designer, fix-it-all woman. Thank you for explaining that to everyone else.

Love, Miss Jensen

Dear Mr. Perfect, 

You sound like real potatoes with extra cheese on paper. 

Is it too much to hope you are like that in real life too?

Love, Jess

Dear Children, 

I love you all to pieces, but I really needed a break this week. 

I may have gone crazy.

Love, Miss Jensen

Easter Sunday

Growing up I never understood why Easter was not as big of a deal as Christmas. Without the things that happened on that Spring weekend thousands of years ago, there would be no need for Christmas. This is a beautiful reminder of the things our Savior did for us to save us all.

Dear Boys #8

Dear Shepherd's Pie, 

I would like to place an order for one serving of Shepherd's Pie.

   *100% real potatoes

   * extra cheese

   * hot and cooked all the way through

Also, I would like one serving delivered to Elise as well. 

Love, Jess

PS- Rush delivery on both of those.

Dear Cookie Monster, 

I don't know what else to do. 

I just don't have a glass of milk to go with your cookies.

Love, Jess

Dear Dr. Seuss, 

I am generally not a patient person and what little I have is starting to wear thin. 

I know I am not great at this whole "flirting" thing, but I am doing my best.

Any time now would be great.

Lots of love, Jess

Dear Boys, 

You gave us everything you had and more. 

Thank you for a great season. 

Next year will be grand!!

Love, Your biggest fan

Dear Future Husband, 

Start learning this song now.

It's my new favorite.

Love, Jess

Blessings of the Priesthood

I had a great reminder this week of the power of the priesthood and has been on my mind all week. I am so thankful that even though I don't live at home and am not married, and therefore do not live with someone who holds the priesthood, I can have access to the blessings it provides. I am thankful for the men in my life who hold this wonderful power and live lives that keep them worthy to exercise it.

The Blessing of the Priesthood- Elder Robert D. Hales

(This is from Paper Cakes and Icing Check out her great YW ideas)