Hands

A few of the ideas will have to wait as we are packing, so I decided to take a picture of hands. I am fascinated by a baby's hands. They are so tiny, so cute and so like an adult just smaller. I love to look at my sons hands and what he does, so here is pictures of hands.

Around the House

Today's picture was about Helping out around the house. My wonderful daughter was kind enough to take out the kitchen trash for me.

Sunset

This month I have decided to do a picture a day. I hope to capture a bit of this summer as well as improve my picture capabilities. I am using the photo challenge from here: http://www.justatouchofcrazy.com/2014/05/50-photos-of-summer-picture-challenge.html

I will take a different picture a day, but not in the order listed. Today, I chose the sunset. I love the sunset. It is beautiful.

The Ten Commandments

In the Bible, Moses received ten commandments from the Lord. Many Christian religions follow these commandments and they are still applicable to today.

Commandment #1 : Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Moses led the children of Israel out Egypt, a place that worshiped many different gods. The children of Israel had been under this influence for many years.

Not many Christians worship golden statues but this commandment gives what should be our first priority. "If God is not first, then all other things are affected. Nothing in life, not even life itself can come before God." (LDS Institute Old Testament Manual) We often put things before God; like TV, work, movies, books, and more. When we put anything before Him in importance than we are breaking this commandment. "Anytime His children set anything before God in importance, they begin to thwart His work for them." (Manual) God wants to help us, but when we put other things before Him we are not listening to Him and he can't help us. A Bible scholar said "God is the fountain of happiness, and no intelligent creature can be happy but through him...The very first commandment of the whole series is divinely calculated to prevent man's misery and promote happiness, by taking him off from all false dependence and leading him to God himself, the fountain of all good." When we put God first, we can be happy. Despite trials, and problems, we can be happy if God is first in our lives.

Commandment #2: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.

When Moses didn't return from talking to God as quickly as they thought he should, the children of Israel built and worshiped a golden calf.

This commandment is forbidding the worship of idols. Idols don't have to be graven images, like golden calves. They could be anything that is put before God, like clothes, homes, businesses, or degrees. When we put aside what God has said or requested for an object or idea then we are worshiping a graven image. The graven image is whatever is more important to us than God and results in interfering with worshiping and obeying Him. If we put an object or idea before God, then we have a graven image, which in the long run will not give everlasting happiness.

Commandment #3: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Vain can mean useless, and can be substituted with the word empty or having no real worth. "It is difficult to understand how a person may truly and sincerely approach God in prayer, seeking a blessing at his hand, at the same time be so disrespectful as to take his name in vain." (LeGrand Richards) The Lord expects people to show him a reverent and respectful attitude. He does not want us to fling His name around in swearing or light, irreverent talk. How we use His name shows the respect and love we have for God. This commandment also covers any oaths or covenants we make. "In addition to religious oaths and covenants many formal acts in modern society are accompanied by solemn oaths and vows. And frequently these oaths are dismissed or set aside. Clearly the violation of such oaths is a violation of the third commandment." (Manual) When we make an oath or covenant, essentially we are invoking the Lord in that promise and by breaking it, we are taking His name in vain. If the world followed the third commandment then we could trust people to keep their promises and use clean language.

Commandment #4: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy

When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, they were told that now they would have to work to have food, clothing and shelter. Even though we need to work to live, we still need to put the Lord first. He set aside one day a week where we are commanded to rest from our labors and remember Him. "Resting on the Sabbath, then, implies far more than taking a nap or stopping normal activities. Mankind must enter into the Lord's work on that day...Doing the work of the Lord (sanctification) often involves great activity on the Sabbath day and the day may not be restful in the usual sense." (Manual) The Sabbath is not only to go to church, and then forget about the Lord. It should be time that we set aside from the world and focus on the Lord. This is not easy, because in today's world there are many enjoyable activities that occur on the Sabbath. If we participate in these activities we are breaking this commandment. "[The Sabbath] is a day on which to surrender every worldly interest and to praise the Lord humbly, for humility is the beginning of exaltation. It is day not for affliction and burden but for rest and righteous enjoyment." (Spencer W. Kimball) Unfortunately, there are many jobs that require people to work on the Sabbath, like doctors, police, military, and others. This does not mean that this commandment should not be kept. During time off they can still concentrate on the Lord and do his work. The hardest thing to do is find activities that are appropriate for the Sabbath. President Kimball gives a great list of things that can be done on the Sabbath.

"The Sabbath is a day on which to take inventory--to analyze our weaknesses, to confess our sins to our associates and our Lord. It is a day on which to fast in 'sackcloth and ashes.' It is a day on which to read good books, a day to contemplate and ponder, a day to study lessons for priesthood and auxiliary organizations, a day to study the scriptures and to prepare sermons, a day to nap and rest and relax, a day to visit the sick, a day to preach the gospel, a day to proselyte, a day to visit quietly with the family and get acquainted with our children, a day for proper courting, a day to do good, a day to drink at the fountain of knowledge and of instruction, a day to seek forgiveness of our sins, a day for the enrichment of our spirit and our soul, a day to restore us to our spiritual stature, a day to partake of the emblems of his sacrifice and atonement, a day to contemplate the glories of the gospel and of the eternal realms, a day to climb high on the upward path toward our Heavenly Father."

Commandment #5: Honour thy Father and thy Mother

The Lord respects the family unit. "In obedience to this law the family unit and all other parts of society remain stable and healthy." (Manual) When children honor their parents, they are showing respect. Many people think that honoring your parent means obeying them, but that is not always true. When parents are righteous and teaching good behavior than honoring a parent would include obedience. When parents ask for wicked behavior than the child should honor the parents but not obey them. Honoring parents does not always mean obedience to parents. "Anytime a child lives righteously he brings honor to his parents...The opposite is also true. Anytime a child lives wickedly he brings shame to his parents." (Manual) Parents are representatives of God and that office deserves honor. For example, the President of the United States is an office that deserves honor, even if we do not agree with the person holding the office. Parents as representatives of God must teach their children or they will have severe consequences given to them by God. This is the only commandment with a promise. The promise is "that thy days may be long upon the land." (Exodus 20:12) When we honor our parents we can live happy, long lives.

Commandment #6: Thou shalt not kill

Murder is a very serious crime. It is the act of destroying a life. "It seems clear that to be guilty of destroying life is the act of 'rebellion' against the plan of the Almighty by denying an individual...the privilege of a full experience in this earth-school of opportunity." (Harold B. Lee) When someone is murdered then their chance to live a full, long life is taken from them. This commandment does not necessarily extend to military service. Murder is the act of deliberately taking a life. While serving in the military if you kill someone then you are working under the direction of your government and doing your duty. It is not murder. "There is, then, a vast difference in destroying a life while acting under the mandate of a sovereign nation whom we are in duty bound to obey and wantonly killing on our own responsibility." (Lee) Military service is not wanton killing, it is out of duty. When killing becomes deliberate or unprovoked, then it is murder and breaking this commandment.

Commandment #7: Thou shalt not commit adultery

Family is sacred to God. He commanded Adam and Eve to procreate. Throughout the Bible we are taught that the family is important, but we are given the ability to choose and make decisions. To help with the procreation we were given a powerful sexual urge. To help guide us, God gave us rules for sexual relationships. Sexual relationships should stay between a husband and wife. Intimacy should remain between husband and wife in marriage. There should be no sexual relationships outside of marriage. There really is no excuse for committing adultery. When we marry we covenant with our spouse and God that we will honor and cherish each other. When we commit adultery we break this commandment and the third commandment to keep covenants.

Commandment #8: Thou shalt not steal

"When one seeks to reap the benefits of another's labor without adequate compensation, it is theft." (Manual) Stealing covers a lot of territory. It includes shoplifting, cheating, improper legal actions to avoid debt, giving less than a full day's work and getting the full days compensation. Anything done dishonestly falls under this category of stealing. If we try to take anything without proper compensation, it is stealing.

Commandment #9: Thou shalt not bear false witness

Bearing false witness sounds outdated or like something someone might do in court, but this commandment is more applicable to us then it sounds. "To bear false witness is to testify to or pass along reports, insinuations, speculations, or rumors as if they were true, to the hurt of a fellow human being." (Adam S. Bennion) Bearing false witness is not always done on purpose because it could just be a lack of information, lack of understanding, or misunderstandings. It could also be done purposely to distort or misrepresent. We should always be careful about passing on the negative things we here about others. It could destroy their character and we would be breaking this commandment.

Commandment #10: Thou shalt not covet

Coveting is the intense desire to have someone else's stuff. It is not wrong to have an ambition to have better things, or to even admire what our neighbor's items as long as we try to honestly earn better things. When we covet, we may be tempted to use underhanded means, like stealing, or murder, to get it these items. It is better to work hard and achieve goals then to covet.

All the commandments relate. "[They] are so intertwined that none can be broken without weakening all the others." (Manual) The Bible gives many examples of this concept. When King David saw Bathsheba bathing, he lusted after her, or coveted. From there David committed adultery,  and stealing her from her husband. When her husband came back, David had him sent to the place most likely for him to die in order to hide what he had done.  By breaking one commandment, David broke many more. Coveting led to lying, stealing, adultery, murder, taking the Lord's name in vain by breaking a covenant of marriage and dishonoring his parents. The commandments hold each other up and as we strive to live them we can have better and happier lives.

Sadness vs Happiness (Building Description)

Describe a building from the point of view of a woman who has just lost her son to war. Do not mention death, war, son or self.

As I passed by the little house, I cannot help stopping and staring. It seemed to share my sadness. I could tell the owners were trying to make a good impression with the fresh, white paint, but the bright sun showcased the chipped, old wood cracked under the paint. The roof shingles newly patched gave the roof a motley look. Red brick chimneys jutted awkwardly from the roof; the bricks worn and chipped. The grass and plants ran unkempt over the yard. The flag hung limp and lifeless. In the bright light the true age of the house could be seen. This was an old house. Once it had a good life, but now it was old and finished.


Describe a building from the point of a view of a woman who just found out she is pregnant. Do not mention birth, baby, self.

With a smile on my face, I stopped to stare at the cute, little, white house. The grass in the front yard looks perfect for bare feet. I could imagine running around the yard. The blooming flowers were beautiful. They would be a delight to see each day. The plants growing in an arch over the door give excellent shade for visitors knocking at the cute, green door. The white paint was bright and fresh. The red brick chimneys coming up from the roof gave the house unique look. The chimneys also gave a continuity to the house, showing that this house could span generations. The wonderful flag declared the house's patriotism. This house looked perfect for a little family. It had a beautiful yard to play in and plenty of windows for natural light from the bright sun. This lovely, little house was bright and happy.

The house being described:

Waiting

It was midnight. The woman closed the curtains and huddled on her bed. Tim should have been home hours ago. Why hadn't he called? She could still hear her daughter's question as Mary tucked her into bed.

"Mom, when will Dad be home? I miss him."

Mary didn't have the heart to tell her that Dad should have been home earlier this morning. She curled under the covers, listening to the rain, praying that Tim was just delayed. Mary shook her head to erase the rumors she had heard. She refused to believe it. Instead she thought, "Tim is just delayed and will be home soon." With that, Mary fell into a fretful sleep.

"Ding-Dong!" Mary bolted out of bed to the sound of the doorbell. Rushing she opened the door, hoping to find Tim.  Instead, she saw two men on the doorstep. Weakly, she collapsed against the door frame.

A week later with her children by her side, Mary held back tears as she accepted the folded flag and awards. Tim had been a hero, but she would rather have him home than the folded flag clasped in her arms.

Families are Forever

"Families are Forever" is this year's theme in primary. We learn from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" that "the family is central to [God's] plan". We are all part of one family, God's family. He gave us families here on earth and these families can continue after death. Strong families are essential to strong communities and nations.

To quote a song from primary "Our Father has a family. Its me! Its you! All others too." Basically, we are all sons and daughters of God. He is our Father in Heaven. In the bible, Romans chapter 8, verse 16 says "The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God". Heavenly Father loves all of us, his children. Most parents want the best for us and our Heavenly Father also wants the best for us. He provided a savior for us, Jesus Christ. Christ came to show us the path to return to live with our Father, and to provide us that way. Christ died for our sins so that we could return to our Heavenly Father.

Also, Heavenly Father gave us families. The proclamation states "The family is ordained of God." It was no accident that from the beginning of time men and women have formed family units. Adam and Eve were commanded to have children, but part of that commandment was "to love and care for each other and for their children... Happiness in family life is most likely to achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ." (The Proclamation) In families, parents teach children how to love and care for each other and to follow our Heavenly Father. Parents learn responsibility and control because let's face it, no one can test the patience of an adult like children.

With all the work and effort put in creating a loving family, it would be sad if families ended when we died. That is why our Heavenly Father's plan includes the opportunity for families to be together eternally. In the sacred temples, families can be sealed together. This means that a family will be able to be together after death, if they follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Parents will be able to be with each other and their children forever. Heaven would not be heaven if we could not be with the ones we love so much. Heavenly Father understands this, since He is our Father, so he provided the way for us to live with our families for eternity.

The theme this year is to teach the children the importance of families. We are are all one family, because we are the children of God. He gave us families to love and teach us how to return to our Father in Heaven. Heavenly Father then provided a way for us to be with our families for eternity. We have been warned that "the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets." (The Proclamation) Look around, watch the news, and it is clear that the slow disintegration of family values is having a negative affect. The family is vital to communities and nations well-being. We should all help to strengthen families.