The Real Meaning of Christmas

Remember how I said I was a cry baby? Well..yeah:

 

May you all take a moment during this busy season to remember exactly why we are celebrating.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Do animals have spirits?

A friend basically asked me this question. I wanted to share my reply:

We DO believe that animals have spirits (as well as plants and any "living" object -so basically everything if you want to get technical and include atoms)
Now with having a spirit comes all the same laws and commandments of God that we have - including their agency.
We often don't think about this - because we just expect them to do what they are supposed to do - plants grow and produce fruit every year at certain times of the year, certain bugs help keep plants healthy, etc.
But plants, animals, and other living things CHOOSE to follow God's laws and commandments. They are just so "pure" and righteous that they follow God perfectly.
There is the parable where god "rebukes" the tree for disobeying him and not producing fruit. While this is a parable, it is also something that could quite literally happen. A tree CAN refuse to produce fruit - but it simply won't because it obeys God.
So I hope that helps answer your question somewhat. I wasn't exaclty sure about what you meant by "Pure Spirit of God" but yes - animals, and every living thing, have spirits.

 

Anyone else have thoughts to add? I would love to hear

Thoughts

Earlier today – well only about an hour ago – I was depressed beyond imagination again. But this time it was really odd and almost scary – I was so depressed, but I was sitting there thinking “This isn’t so bad. I don’t have to be happy. I’m not super happy, but I’m also not crying and in a horrible mood – just more blah. I could live an entire life ‘blah’ like this”

Yes, honestly, I really was thinking that. And I have no idea why. Soon as I caught myself thinking like that – I decided I needed to go take a nice hot bath and listen to some conference talks to get me out of this horrible situation.

I listened to this talk by Elder Scott. It was just what I needed – I had some new insights, but mostly just refreshing reminders of my potential.

I’m a cry baby

I decided that today. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. I say it because I think the past month…maybe longer, I haven’t been able to go to church without SOMETHING making me just bawl.

Today it was sacrament meeting. It was the Primary Program. I’ve never cried for a primary program before. But I did today. You could really feel the spirit through them very very strong today.

I was teary eyed the entire time, but when it really hit was when Faith got up to sing. Faith is my friend Emily’s little sister – she was born blind. She has an amazing voice and often sings solos, but today was a special one. She sang the primary song “I’ll Walk With You” which if you don’t know it, is about how people may be different, but I”LL be the person to not treat you different…I”LL be your friend. It just touched my heart because here you have Faith, who has always been blind and who is such an example to everyone she meets, singing this song. Yes, I bawled.

Then it hit me again hard at the end….when they got up to sing “I know that my Redeemer Lives" They sang this version, which I love:

It didn’t help that one of the little boys standing in the front singing was crying. He must’ve been only 5 or 6, and he was up there rubbing his eyes with his fists as he was singing, trying to keep from crying.

 

I know that my redeemer lives. He does live. He lives and comforts me, heals me, blesses me, protects me, guides me, loves me, carries me, counsels me.

He is my Savior, whom I owe my entire life too.

I love Him with all of my heart.

Great Quote…

A friend had this as his status on Facebook today…needless to say I copied it It is an AMAZING quote and really makes you think.

‎"My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure."

It helps me, at least, to realize what’s more important in life….dwelling on failing, or being ok with it, learning from it, and moving on.

Charity Never Faileth

We watched this video for Family Home Evening tonight….I absolutely love this talk. It’s something we all need to remember:

Broken Things to Mend