Brocolily: something GOOD to share!

Food is really important for Hispanics. In our countries, people might be very poor, but they will find a way to feed their families and others. We show our love with food. If someone comes to visit, we make sure that we can feed them with the best we have. Perhaps that is the reason why I love to share food with people too, and Sundays are often the best days to do it. Sharing food makes my Sundays a better day, and these are some of the reasons:

1. 

   Peruvian homemade chocolates.
   Those from my ward loved it!

   "Reward" for those who come to church or to activities. Is not always easy for everyone to come to church;  for some, it requires a lot of efforts. So getting food is always appreciated, specially when they didn't have time to eat before. I've done that often for choir practices because I knew that many didn't really wanted or had time to be there, but they came. I used to make breakfast for my seminary students every morning (this wasn't on Sundays, but it was also a "physical" reward for doing the effort to come to an spiritual activity). I know that people should not come to church for food... but it's always good to have a little physical "reward" as a tender mercy for coming to church or activities. 
   
   
2. Encouragement for those who faithfully fulfill their callings. I got callings and responsibilities that required me to leave home early to fulfill them, having meetings, visiting members, helping the missionaries. That often meant that I couldn't eat a real meal all day. I learn to survive to my Sundays without food, but it felt good when I could have a little something to eat. That's why I will sometimes make food to give to people I see sacrificing their time to serve others or fulfill their callings, as attending early meetings, giving rides to others or home teaching. Church callings and responsibilities can take a lot of time, so giving them food is a way for me to encourage those faithful members in their efforts.
3. The pleasure to share. It is the greatest reason to bring food to church! It makes me so happy when I see the smile on the eyes of those who get that food. I don't cook to impress, but because of the pleasure to share. And because of that desire to share and feed others, I try improve my cooking skill and I love to try new recipes, that I may be able to show my love and appreciation to others... with a good taste! :)

Beijinhos and brigaderios, a dessert from Brazil
that I tried I shared with those in my ward.

When we share, we bring happiness to others... and to ourselves! Sundays must be the best day of the week, and with so many responsibilities that leaders have, or so many sacrifices that some members have to do to attend church meetings or participate in choirs or other activities, why not bring them a little something to make their day a little more glorious? I know how much joy the gospel brings to my life, but I know that is not that easy for everyone.

"Because I have been given much I too must give" are some words from a hymn that I really like and that reminds me that, having been blessed with a deep love for the gospel, I need to share that love with others, and to help them and encourage them to live the gospel and to find happiness on it as I have learned to do it. Sharing food to me is a way to tell them: "I know this is not a lot, but I just wanted to let you know that I am happy to see you here; I recognize your efforts, I am grateful for the good you are doing in the life of those you are serving, I am glad to see your participation in choir or in this meeting, I am glad that you came to church. You are important to the Lord, and I want to make you feel a little part of his love for you through this food. If you keep doing those efforts, he will bless you with so much more than cookies, or chocolates, or cakes, or other food."

Here is a video of that song that I really like! :) 

This is the reason why I love to cook and bring treats to my friends and leaders on Sundays: to make their Sunday a better day! If a random person in their ward like me notice their efforts and is so happy to see them there, doing good, that she brings food for them, how much more the Lord, who knows everything and sees everything, recognize their efforts, and will give them eternal blessings!

A cake I made for my friend Diana's first anniversary
of baptism.

In Mosiah 18:8-9, we learn about the baptismal covenant and the things we promise, and part of it is to bear one another's burdens. Sharing, to me, is part of that. It's a way to help my brothers and sisters with their burdens that attending church, attending choir, attending meetings, home teaching, teaching lessons, sacrificing their other activities, and any other burdens they could feel on Sundays. 

We all can share! We all can give! We all have talents! We all have gifts! And Sundays are the perfect day for that (remember, things that we do on Sundays can be good to do on other days of the week too, so we can share every day). I love this song that my mother taught me in my childhood from which I learned the importance to give, and I want to share that same principle to my children. We are never to little to give and share! We don't have idea how the little things we do for others can become great blessings to the recipients of our service, as this hymn teaches:

So, you don't have any cooking skills or are already too busy to find time to cook for the members of your ward? That's ok, there are so many other ways to share! Here are some suggestions:

• You have a hand? Great! shake the hands of those you see (and if you are like me and the Hispanic or French culture, hug them too!) And guys, use also those hands to open the doors or help to carry stuff for the ladies or elderly members; it's always appreciated.
• You can talk? Perfect! Talk to the members of your ward. Ask them about their week. Greet those who are new. Participate in lessons (that encourages a lot those who are teaching).
• You know how to smile? Awesome! Greet the members with a big and sincere smile!
• You read the Sunday school lesson during the week or something from your scripture study of the week is related to the lessons? Interesting... share what you learn, if appropriate, during the class.
• You have a testimony? Wonderful! If it's testimony meeting, go and share it with others!
• You hold the priesthood? What a privilege! Do all you can to be worthy of it, and accept the opportunity to prepare, bless or pass the bread and water during sacrament, or to give blessings to those who need it.
• You have a calling? Amazing! Serve those you have the responsibility on. Give your 110%.
• You have a voice? Formidable! Attend choir! Even if you don't sing well yet, go, and your musical skills will improve, and with your choir director, the other members of the choir and the Spirit, you will discover your potential to sing better than you ever thought!
• You have musical skills? That's fascinating! Play the piano, conduct the music, prepare a special musical number. Music brings a unique Spirit!
• You know how to pray? Sweet! Volunteer to say the prayer!
• You own a car? Oh yeah! People like me would need a ride to church! Offer them rides!
• You have many friends? Cool! Introduce them to those who are new or who don't know many people yet.
• You love children and have patience with them? Fabulous! Sit with a mother who could need help.
• Do you feel the presence of the Spirit in your life? What a glorious feeling! Help others to feel it too with the way you treat them, with the things you share in your lessons, by serving them, or just by showing through the light in your eyes the happiness it brings to your life.
• You have the gospel? Excellent! Talk to investigators! Invite your friends to come with you! Share it!

Brocolily - healthy cookies made for a pot luck in Montreal.

There are so many other ways to share and to give on Sundays. These are just a few simple suggestions! You know yourself, you know your strengths and gifts, I'm sure you can find many other ideas to share, give and to bear the burdens of the members of your ward. The Lord is our example, and he gave freely to us all, even his life! Shouldn't we follow him and give to others? 

I testify that sharing and serving others brings magnificent feelings that can't be described! It definitely is a cherry on the top of my Sundays! As we serve others, we are serving God, and that is a great blessing, to be his hands!

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Now, to finish, I want to share the recipe of something I made that many people liked: Brocolily... or Broccoli cookies!! Yes, broccoli and cookies can be compatible! Cookies are often good, and as one of my friends said, the gospel is like cookies: because they are good, we need to share them! So imagine when the cookies are not only good, but also HEALTHY! I loved it!  As Lehi with the fruit of the tree, those cookies are good, that I have to share them!

So here is the recipe. It was created by a lady from Quebec, where I grew up. In their website, Création Les Gumes, they have many other good and healthy dessert recipes with veggies (all in French), and I will try some others and share it, so if you want them, let me know, and I can translate it for you! :)

Brocolily (about 24 cookies)

Ingredients:

Broccoli and sweet potato purees for the brocolily cookies

- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp of peanut butter
- 1/4 cup of sweet potatoes puree
- 1/4 cup of broccoli puree
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 c. tsp of vanilla
- 1 tbsp of granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp of baking soda
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp of whole wheat flour
- 1/4  cup of white chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips


Preparation:

Brocolily ready for the oven!

• Preheat the oven to 375°C 
• Mix the egg and peanut butter. 
• Cook sweet potatoes and mash them (I did it with a fork). 
• Steam the broccoli until tender. When it's cold, blend it to make a puree (the first time I made those cookies I couldn't find the blender, so I smash it with a fork when it was still hot... we could see some pieces of broccoli on some cookies, but with the blender, we can't notice it). 
• Add the puree and sugar. Mix.
• Add vanilla, white sugar, baking soda and flour. Mix. 
• Add chocolate. Mix. 
• Make small balls, about 1 inch. 
• Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375°C
• When it's golden on the top, it's ready.

*Because of the purees, the texture might be a little different that what you are use too, but is good!

Brocolily dough -
Taste it! Is good! Who would
believe there is broccoli on it?

You can also see the video (in French) of the recipe on this link, if you want to have an idea how it is... but if you don't know French, you won't understand to much from it...

Enjoy it! Now, instead of telling the children: eat your veggies if you want a dessert, you can say: eat your dessert if you want your veggies! ;) And don't forget to share... the cookies... and your talents and gifts, to uplift and support others, on Sundays... and every day of the week!

My conversion to Easter... all #BecauseOfHim

What a marvelous Easter week-end! I know that we are used to hear that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but Easter is becoming the best time of the year for me. No that I don't like Christmas, because I totally love it and it's a great opportunity to rejoice of the coming of the Lord Jesus-Christ, but, as stated president Gordon B. Hinckley, "there would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection".

Even if all my life I've believed in Christ, Easter never really had a meaning for me before. I never really had Easter traditions... I remembered just chilling with my family during those days off, watching the 10 commandments on TV, and once the Church movie "The Lamb of God" was on TV... It was exciting to see a religious movie on TV, since we don't really have that in Montreal, so we watched it. I also remember that I sang at an Easter concert in 2004, and I think it was the greatest way I ever celebrated Easter before, and I enjoyed to share through music my testimony of the Savior's atonement and resurrection. A couple of years I think we watched the movie "Finding faith in Christ" with my family on Easter Sunday, but I'm not really sure about it. I also remember that in 2012, I made a cake with my little brother to share with my family for Easter, and I decided to put a little reminder on it of the real meaning of Easter that my little brother and my nephews could understand what Easter was all about, as you can see on the picture below:

This was the original idea of the cake, a nest with the birds
coming out their eggs... look what I add to remember who else
came out for another place, the tomb... :)

But since I moved to Arizona and watched the Mesa Easter Pageant, Easter became my favorite holiday. I had the blessing to watch the Pageant six times that first year. I had some friends who were part of it:

Kelly Allen, one of the 10 virgins.

Andrew Payne, an angel and a torchbearer

 I got to volunteer as a "warrior", helping out with parking, seats, and stuff like that, and because of that I got to attend the devotional that the cast had before the pageant and I got to sit next to a light pole for the last presentation, to watch that anyone, specially kids, would walk under the rope and try to go to join the cast on the stage. I had the best seats I could ever dream of for that marvelous production!

That pageant really made me realized how important Easter is and of the privilege we have to know about this, about our Savior, and to share that message of faith, hope and love with others. Since then, I remember even more than ever the truth about my Savior Jesus Christ: that He lives!!! Even if I knew it before, never I have felt that testimony so strongly in my life as after watching that Pageant and pondering about it as last Easter. I decided then that I wanted to make of each Easter in my life more special and to create my own little Easter personal and family traditions. I already took the decision that I would be part of the cast of that pageant some day... I tried for this year but I didn't got to Arizona on time for the auditions, but I'll keep trying. And I will definitely be part of it with my family someday! I want my children to experience that and to feel that excitement about the Savior.

One of my favorite parts of the pageant, Christ with the kids. It melts my heart!

He is not there!

Why am I talking about all of these on a blog about Sundays, if the Easter Pageant is not on Sundays? Because that event had change my whole view of Easter, and I feel that my Easter Sunday is more meaningful than even before. So this year, I tried to prepare more than before.

How did I prepared? I went to a sacred musical production retelling of the final days of the life of Jesus Christ, "Lamb of God", where two of my friends were performing. It made me feel the sacred spirit of Easter and start my preparation for it.

We also had General Conference, where the speakers powerfully testified of the divine atonement of Christ. I've been listening to many program on Mormon channel that have uplifted my spirit and humble myself. I also read this book, "The Other Side Of Heaven", where the mission experience of Elder Groberg taught me about Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement, and prepare my heart to change. We also prepared a musical number with our ward choir for Easter, and I've been pondering about the words of that song, He is Risen, and tried to learn those words that I might be able to sing with joy and testifying to those in our ward that I know He is Risen, looking at them, and not to the music sheets.

I've been studying for many weeks chapter 6 of Preach my Gospel, about Christlike attributes, and this last two weeks I've been pondering about charity and learning a lot of things about it. Doing that helped me to really focus on the great love that Christ had for us and how to develop that kind of love in me. I even prayed to become more charitable, and the day after I was feeling so empty and alone, not understanding why. And after sharing my feelings about it with a friend and pondering about the why of those sad feeling inside me, I realized that it was to understand better at least a very little portion of all the Savior endured. It made me feel closer to him and to be even more grateful for the great love He had for me. It gave me the desire to take those days before Easter to learn more about him that on Easter Sunday I could be prepared to rededicate my life to Him. Those feelings turned out to be one of the greatest blessings I had as a preparation for Easter.

I also attend the Easter Pageant. I only  had the opportunity to go three times this year, but it was always an uplifting experience. I might had seen this 9 times, but it still touch my heart every single time! I had the blessing to attend with a friend who brought some no members and it was such a great blessing to share with them the joy I had while watching that pageant, and to make them feel the true meaning of Easter. I also brought one of my friends visiting from Peru. She loved the Savior so much and this experience, I believe, had the same effect on her as it did on me, and enhanced the importance of Easter in her life.

And of course, I went to the temple! I got to go twice on Easter week, and had the blessing to perform ordinances for my own ancestors and to share with a friend how the temple helps to understand better Easter and the atonement of Christ. The temple truly testifies of Christ and his mission on earth.

Also, this year the church launched this video and website about the true meaning of Easter, and through all week since Palms Sunday, people had been sharing it through social media. It has been so amazing to see so many people sharing their love for the Christ and all the reasons why they are grateful Because of Him. And I did it too. Everyday I was trying to find something uplifting about how wonderful life is #BecauseOfHim. That definitely prepared me better for it, since I pondered more about all the possibilities that can become realities in my life, BECAUSE OF HIM, eternal life being the greatest!

All those special experiences has brought me closer to my Savior. So this morning, I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and looked at the sunrise, pondering about THAT Easter morn, when the Savior conquered death. As I was watching the sky and the sun, many thoughts came to my mind and I understood better so many principles of the Gospel and so much about our true light, our sun, Jesus Christ, and of his love and mercy. I had a interesting scripture study and was uplifted with sacred music and with Music and the Spoken words. Doing this helped me to feel that love from the Lord.

And my Sabbath has been so uplifting because of that!

#BecauseOfHim, I got sweet messages from friends since early this morning that made me feel loved and important for others.

#BecauseOfHim, I sang with our choir He is Risen and felt the joy that the knowledge about the resurrection of Christ brings to our life, and sang it almost by heart, having a smile in my heart (and hopefully on my face too), testifying of that truth, that I know he lives. I don't have the version that we sang (made by our choir director), but I love this version from the Mormon tabernacle choir, that you can listen too:

#BecauseOfHim, I had the opportunity to think a little longer about our him, my Savior, at sacrament while we were waiting for the bread to be ready.
#BecauseOfHim, I heard talks that made me understand better how I have felt and can still feel his love, and lessons that remind me of all the things that all possible through him.
#BecauseOfHim, I saw wonderful friends that I dearly love and are examples to me and give me motivation to become more like the Lord.
#BecauseOfHim, I had a friend who remembered that I was without my family here and thought about inviting me for dinner with her family that I may not stay alone for Easter dinner... I couldn't go because I felt the need to stay alone tonight and write about my feelings and ponder about all that, but I really appreciated the fact that she thought about me in that way and are grateful for her love and friendship.
#BecauseOfHim, I got to share a cake with some friends and gave what I had left to another friend and I felt that sweet gratitude in my heart by seeing that a little thing I did could bring them so much excitement, not only to my friends with whom I shared it, but also to those my other friend was going to share it with even if I don't know them, reminding me that the good things we do can bring blessings to more people than what we think, even some that we don't even know... I love cooking for these wonderful friends by the way :)
#BecauseOfHim, I got the blessing to have the company of a friend who asked me to share my Easter tradition, and my thoughts about what had been taught at church and also of the things I had been pondering that morning, and he did the same, and I was grateful to have friends with whom sharing our joy about the Savior and his teachings comes just naturally and how we can uplift each other.
#BecauseOfHim, even if I'm not with my family this Easter (and I wonder if I ever will again), I don't feel alone, and I know that I will be with them forever, because of the temple covenants we have make together.
#BecauseOfHim, I've seen many friends testifying about their belief in Christ by posting a picture of the Savior as their profile picture on facebook and by sharing videos or thoughts about all that is possible in their lives with the greatest hashtag ever: #BecauseOfHim. I actually saw this image on facebook that one of my teachers from high school posted, kinda making fun of how that event could have been if it had happened in our smartphones era in 2014... I commented on that picture saying that if I had been there, I would totally take a picture of it and share with everyone the joy that event brings. She liked the comment, and I supposed she understood that this event is real and important to me, because of all the things I've been posting this week... But then I also thought: this is totally what mormons have been doing today with our profile pictures... it made me smile, because this is how excited we get about this event! :)

#BecauseOfHim, I rejoice in the guidance of the Spirit in the decisions that I've been taking and that I have to take. Some might not be easy and are hard to accept, but I know that, because it comes from him, it is the best for me and it will be great blessings to my life.
#BecauseOfHim, I have feel so many of his tender mercies in my life and miracles that I never thought could be possible, and I know that, if He had the power to conquer spiritual and physical death, he can make anything good happen in my life.
#BecauseOfHim I had the blessing to enjoy the quietness and peace of my room to ponder more about Him and how I want Easter to become a great event in my life and in the life of my future family, and to prepare for it since now.

I felt so much love for my Savior this past days and specially today, and that has brought a great desire to make the changes I need to do in my life to try to be more like Jesus. I really think about keeping that tradition, preparing a couple of weeks before Easter with the Easter pageant, musical events, temple, choir, general conference, uplifting music and discussions, to prepare my mind and soul for all the next Easter mornings in my life, where I would try to wake up early in the morning and have my spirit ready to understand better the magnificent and powerful things that Christ did for me.

I am so grateful for the Easter Pageant, which was the beginning of my "true conversion" to the Easter Spirit, and for all the blessings it had brought to my life, and how it had made of this Easter Sabbath the best day of the year! This image shows how I felt this morning, I how I feel about my Savior: I look at him, knowing that he is there, that he is not in a tomb, and as I look with faith at him, hope will never disappear, and charity will fill my heart and will allow me to be a better instrument in his hands to share the news that he lives with others, and make them feel His love.

So on this Easter day, I invite you to ponder about how this Easter have drawn you closer to the Savior. May we not only remember and share on facebook all that is possible because of Him and our testimonies of him, that he lives, but may we live with that knowledge every day of our life, sharing it with others. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, and because of those event that we remember on Easter time, everything is possible!

I have in my life the best cherry I could ever ask for my Sundays, and it's HIM! #BecauseOfHim, I can enjoy my Sundays!

Owning a smartphone does not make you smart... listening to the voice of the Lord does!

We learn in the scriptures that many have listen the voice of the Lord (President Eyring talks about it on this First Presidency message on the January 2013 Ensign). I believe this is true and that it is possible for us to listen to His voice too, perhaps not face to face, or with the visit of an angel or through a clear and powerful voice, but often it is through feelings and impressions that the Spirit prompts to us. And this being a blog about Sundays, I want to talk about something that helps me to listen to the voice of the Lord on Sundays, and how that has being a huge blessing in my life.

I got my first cell phone 4 years ago! Yeah... I did survived until 2010 without a cell phone! Believe me, it's possible!!! :) A few months later I realized that I would get sometimes distracted by the vibration of my phone during inspiring messages at sacrament meeting, just when the Spirit was trying to teach me something. Think about it: how would you feel if you are talking about something really important with a friend, and at that moment someone texts your friend and he just turns his attention to his phone and don't listen to you anymore? I don't know about you, but I don't really appreciate when that happens. I understand that sometimes we need to text back or to call someone, but I think that most of times, it can wait. Now, imagine how the Spirit feels when he is preparing our spirit to teach us something important that could change our lives and make us gain knowledge and understanding, and then we ignore him because our girl friend is texting us about the new cute guy who just sat next to her... Don't you think the Spirit could feel offended or rejected?

This is how I felt about using my phone during church. When I understood that I was going to church to learn how to become a better version of myself and to repent, I realized that I needed to be ready to listen to the promptings of the Spirit at any time, because he often prompts us deep teachings when less expect them, and if we are not paying attention, we may lose the opportunity to learn something that could change our lives. Since then, I decided to turn off my phone as soon as I get to church, that I might not be distracted by it. I upgraded to my first smartphone in November, and I'm not turning it off anymore because I use it for lessons to read the manuals or scriptures on it, but I leave it on silence and I don't care how many calls, text, snapchat or facebook notifications I have, I just don't pay attention to it and use it only to read the lessons.

Since I started that, my Sundays have being better, despite that technology that could become a distraction! All my attention goes to those who are around me, to real people giving a talk in front of me, or sitting next to me. I feel that my relationships with these people is stronger... and my relationship with those from whom I get notifications is not weaker. Everyone understands that we can't always respond to a text message in the next seconds after receiving it. I don't think I will lose a friend because I didn't text back for three hours (there are some circumstances when we need it though, like once that I was the chorister and noticed a no-member coming in, but I couldn't go sit with him because I was already sitting at the front, so I turned on my phone and text a friend to tell him to sit with him, and I make signs to him from my seat to tell him to look at his phone). People are important! But not only the people who contact us on our phones, but also those who are next to us.  If I leave my phone alone, I can focus more on those who are sitting alone and sit with them; I can talk to those who are new or visiting and make new friendships instead of focusing in a single friend behind the screen. My relationships with the members from my ward has being strengthen because I make an effort to notice them and to pay attention to them, and not to my friend on facebook who just tagged me on a picture. The "like" on that picture can wait until later. Our brothers and sisters in our wards and around you are more important that liking a picture or than sending a selfie through snapchat.

But the most important thing, my relationship with God is stronger. I pay attention to the things that are taught at church, I note the impressions I have from the Spirit. I feel closer to my Savior. I have the time to ponder without being disturbed. I learn so many things and my soul is filled! I have a great feast every Sunday! It's a delicious 3-hour-service-meal! I don't take any picture of that meal to post it on instagram, I don't do the check-in at church every Sunday, tagging all those who attend... ok, I probably share on facebook a quote or two from something I learned or shared something I liked from my day or just saying how much I love my ward... but I will do that only later, after my church meetings are over. Remember what Elder Randall L. Ridd taught at the Priesthood session of the April 2014 general conference: "Many of us immediately stop whatever we are doing to read a text message - should we not place even more importance on messages from the Lord?" I believe this is true! As much as we love our family and friends who contact us through our phones, remember that we must first love God. He wants us to listen to His voice! We must stop whatever we are doing... like texting, facebooking, snapchating, twitering, or any other distraction on our phones... and read or listen to his messages! Those messages will have a greater impact in our lives!

I'm not saying that cell phones are not good for Sundays! Actually, it serves me a lot on Sundays! I walk a lot and I don't want to bring my whole gospel library on my purse, and because I have my smartphone I can have all the books I need right there. When I need to go for a choir practice Sunday mornings or any other place where I haven't been yet, I use my phone for directions and to know how long it would take me to be there. I can contact my friends with my phone to ask them for rides to church, and when I need to contact a member from my ward I can look from their information on LDS tools. When I'm walking, I open the Mormon Channel app and listen to the inspired music or programs. And the list goes on. Cell phones and smartphones can be a great cherry on our Sundays, but we need to eat that cherry wisely! As said elder Ridd, "owning a smartphone does not make you smart, but using it wisely can". Since the light of Christ and the Spirit and the words of God can make us smarter, choose today to become smarter in your church meetings by using our smartphones wisely, to be able to listen to His voice, "for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do" (2 Nephi 32:3). And don't we all want to know the things that we should do? 

 I suggest you to watch or read this awesome talk by Elder Randall L. Ridd, that I'm quoting twice here, at the Priesthood General Conference Session on April 2014.

General Conference: A double-Sunday, a Sabbath week-end!

What a marvelous general conference! The event that members of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints look forward twice a year just concluded, until next October. What a blessing it is for us to have the words of God revealed to us through the prophet!

I love to watch general conference. As I was preparing for this week-end, I've been pondering about my "general conference traditions" and I realized that at least twice a year, I have a long Sabbath day... a long Sabbath day that lasts two days... sometimes even three, depending what I'am doing on Friday night before conference. I haven't done that all my life, but since I discovered, little by little, the magnificent impact of the teachings from general conference in my life, I do my best to prepare for it and to keep my week-end as holy as I can.

I don't know exactly when I started to listen to conference on Saturdays. Before I used to attend only on Sundays, and then, at one moment of my life, I probably decided to go to the Saturday session too, and since, then, I wonder if I've ever missed one. I seriously don't know when it was, but I know it did happen, and I feel so blessed that it did! Saturday sessions are always so uplifting and deep topics are taught there!

How do I live that week-end? Usually these are things I try to do the week before and during the conference, depending on my situation at the moment...

• I ponder about how present is the Spirit in my life, how close to him I feel, and I do my best to have the his company with me during that week to be able to recognize his promptings during the conference and to be taught by him as I listen to our prophet and leaders talks.
• I ponder about my life and decisions, or things I want to change in my life. Sometimes, when I don't have anything in particular to ask for, I just pray to be enlighten by the Spirit to find, during conference, the goals I  need to set in my life.
• I take every opportunity I have to uplift my spirit, in my daily activities. I will listen to more LDS music or messages when I am walking, getting ready or doing other chores; I'll attend the temple, institute or other church meetings; I'll teach with the missionaries or find an opportunity to share my testimony with others and to serve around me. I've found that, when I do these things, my spirit feels more receptive to revelation and more humble and meek to accept whatever I feel prompted to do during conference.
• I fast before or during the conference. Depending of the activities I have the Friday or Saturday, I try to fast. Since in Montreal I used to go eat between the two sessions on Saturday with my friend and her family, I would start my fast then, until lunch time between the two sessions on Sunday. I would sometimes start my fast on Friday though, depending of the other things I have to do, as "girl" nights or things like that during priesthood session...
• My scripture study the mornings of the conference are usually things about modern revelation and prophets, to strengthen my testimony about the importance of general conference BEFORE I listen to it, and not only after listening to the great quotes.
• I will sometimes try to read and learn a little more about the apostles too. I must confess that I didn't did that this time because I didn't had too much time and I was absorbed by another book (The Other Side of Heaven... a book about a general authority too, so it's also a good thing...). I read two weeks ago something about the wives of the First Presidency and Twelve apostles though and that was useful too...
• I usually attend both conferences at a meetinghouse. I've tried to do it at home, since it is really accessible, but I just feel better to go to a meetinghouse, specially on Sundays. In Montreal, we have the tradition to bring food to eat between the two sessions at church, and to get together with the other members who come. Maybe it is because of that tradition, but for me it works better at a meetinghouse... it's easier for me to resist to the temptation of getting to comfortable on a couch and to fall asleep... 
• I turn off my phone or put it on silence (unless I'm waiting for someone I've invited to come and need to be reachable by the person). The messages that are shared are too important to keep something that can distract on my hands. It helps me to focus on the teachings of the conference and on the notes I take.
• I wear "Sunday clothes", even if I listen to it at home. It just feels different! The couple of times that I've listen to conference in pajamas or casual clothes, I felt as if something was missing. Maybe is just a little thing, but for me it has made a difference in the way I receive the message. You know how little kids feel like a real hero when they are wearing a hero costume? Well, it's almost the same that happen to me when I wear Sunday clothes at General Conference... I feel as if I was there, among all those who are participating of the conference in the Conference Center... I feel more united to all of them... Try it!
• I pay attention to the lyrics and music of the hymns, and stand up and sing with the congregation when it's our turn to sing. I know sometimes many take that time to go to the bathroom, drink some water or just stretch and take a little walk, but I believe that music is powerful, and the hymns are carefully choose for conferences. Each hymn is another talk and has something to teach us. I ponder about why the specific hymn is at the beginning, middle or end of the conference and how they are related to the talks. I've had many experiences where the hymns have prepared me to receive personal revelation during a following talk. Music is an universal language, and even more when the Spirit is singing with them, don't forget that!
• I take notes. Sometimes I'll write quotes, but more often I write thoughts that come to my mind as I listen to it. If names of people, ideas or specific things come to my mind, I write them down next to the specific talk. If I had questions before and a talk responds to it, I will write it. 
• After every session and after conference, I try to keep a calm spirit in my other activities. I try to ponder on the things I heard, to take notes and plan my days according on the things I heard. I like to keep that Spirit as much as possible, not only liking some nice memes and quotes on facebook, but by going back to my notes and see what else I can learn from it. Since I wasn't staying at the meetinghouse as I am used to, this time between the sessions I came back home and ponder about the things I heard... it amazes me how many things I learned from doing that! I really needed it! Also, if I have the chance to talk with some friends about it, I try to do it, to share the things I learned and what changes I want to do in my life. I really appreciate those opportunities where I can share and learn with others how the conference have uplifted us.
• I pray a lot! Before, during and after the conference. That communication with Heavenly Father has to be there. If he is going to talk to me through his servants during the conference, I need to to the same and to talk to him. It really makes a great difference.
• I take a time, after conference, to re-study the talks and to set new goals or to improve the way I'm already working on current goals.

These things have helped me to be better prepared for general conference. Sundays are supposed to be "the best day of the week". Isn't that cool that twice a year, that day can last for two days? I feel it is. Of course sometimes Saturdays won't be exactly as a Sabbath day... I mean, many go eat after conference, or we have to work, or to do school, and other things. But I can testify to you that my best general conferences have been those when I've been able to save my complete week-end to it. Even if I have to work or to do other things, like Saturday night, where I had to help at my friend's restaurant, I keep listening to uplifting music, I ponder about the things I heard, I try to share with others the things I heard during the first sessions and to encourage people to listen to it on Sundays. 

When I keep those two days holy, something inside me is different. Sometimes is not the best thing, in a natural man point of view. I mean, sometimes when our spirits are in that spiritual mood, Heavenly Father makes us feel things or changes that we have to make in our life but that we don't want to do or we don't feel prepared to do. But I've discovered that when we feel this and we take the challenge with humility and faith, before the next general conference we can see how it has blessed our lives. As said Elder L. Tom Perry, "Obedience is a Choice - between our own limited knowledge and power, and God's unlimited wisdom and omnipotence." I feel that when we prepare for general conference and that we keep that spirit at least through all the week-end, our capacity to obey to the promptings and to improve our lives with the counsel and advice received during conference increases. Our faith become stronger, our hope shines, and we are willing to do the will of the Lord. 

I am so grateful for our living prophet. I am so grateful for all the formidable brethren and sisters who serve as general authorities and care for us. I am so grateful for the Mormon tabernacle choir and the other choirs who participate with their talents to uplift our spirits through music. I am so grateful for the technology and for the meetinghouse that allow us to listen and watch the conference. I am so grateful for the unity and strength we can feel all together, reunited through all the world, for this wonderful event. I am grateful for being member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I would like to finish with some words from the hymn "We thank thee O God for a Prophet", that we sang yesterday at the conference and that caught my attention. At the end it says: 

"... they who reject this glad message

Shall never such happiness know."

As we were singing that, I thought about how blessed we are for having a Prophet! An extraordinary happiness come to our  lives when we follow the words of our Prophet. Sadly, many don't even have idea of it, and many reject the message, or maybe don't reject it but neglect it after the conference is over. I invite us all to review the conference and to accept the messages in our lives, and to fill our life with the Spirit to know the things Heavenly Father wants us to do. I promise you that you will see unimaginable blessings in your lives, and an eternal happiness (remember what elder Bednar said: "bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness"... so don't think that because you have trials, challenges, loads, you can't find happiness). And that eternal happiness is there, available to us, if we follow the glad message from our prophets!

I love Sundays!

To watch general conference, click here.

A perfect arrangement of happiness

I love music

I love music... different genres, from different countries, in different languages, with different rhythms and instruments... I use music for various purposes: to clean, to do chores, to get ready, to write my blog, to sing, to dance, to chill, to study, to relax, to exercise and do sports (those who were at the volleyball night at FHE a couple of weeks ago probably noticed that as I was singing and dancing Latin songs when I was playing to give my team more motivation haha), to cook, to [try to] play it... Music is a big part of my life! Music is powerful!

What I like the most to do with music, is to perform it! I might not be a super talented musician, and my feet dance with music better than my vocal chords and my fingers sing or play it, but still. I know to read music, I can play [really slowly] the piano, and try to play guitar, and would like to learn to play more instruments. And I love too sing! I feel that music is such a great gift to share with others, that, even if I'm not an expert, I want to do my part to bring the joy that it brings. And the kind of music that I love the most to perform to bring peace and to uplift others, is LDS music. That's why I've always loved to be in choirs.

In Montreal as in Arizona I had numerous wonderful and uplifting experiences as I've being singing or conducting choirs. Music makes me happy!

Choir experiences

Our combined Montreal YSA branches Christmas
choir at a metro station

I remember our YM/YW choir in my Hispanic ward... we would just listen to a cassette of a Janice Kapp Perry song in Spanish and learn the song and sing it... that was our kind of choirs! Ha! Good memories though! We were not musical prodigies, but the lyrics strengthened us and it was a great bonding activity for the youth. I enjoyed to be in choirs in Montreal! In my previous YSA branch in Montreal we needed to beg people to come to choir because they were not musicians. Many were good dancers though, or were good in sports, and we were all multilingual... I mean, we had other talents and skills, but only a few had a deep knowledge about music, and I am grateful that those who didn't still accepted the invitation to come to choir and to have an uplifting experience with what they could offer. That is wonderful about LDS music (and many things in the Church, as giving talks or lessons and missionary work): when we do it with a desire to serve, giving our best, and with the Spirit, it touches the heart of people, even if we are not professionals.

So I was used to simple and basic musical arrangements for our choirs. And then I came to Arizona, where many have so much knowledge about music that I felt as a musical ignorant next to them. Obviously, that couldn't stop me! I love music too much, so I just took the challenge and I did my best to sing with them in the choirs that I've joined in my stake, ward, institute, and other special choirs where I've been singing since I moved here.

AZ YSA Regional conference choir at Gammage

Have I done any good? Or I should say: can I do any good as I sing this song?

Some weeks ago, in my ward choir, we started to practice an arrangement of the beautiful hymn "Have I done any good?", made by the incredible Sam Fleming, a talented and almost famous musician from my YSA ward. I love his arrangements! The first time I look at the music sheet I was impressed... and of course wondering how this brown girl from Montreal would be able to sing that! I remember that the first time we practiced that song, I was looking forward to finish the practice because I was struggling with it... I not only had to become familiar with the alto part, I had to become familiar with the lyrics in English too... I knew that song only in Spanish! It was so fast,and reading my notes and the lyrics at same time required a lot of concentration! I knew after that first practice that it would be a great challenge... but at same time, I was so excited to sing it for our ward! I knew it would be hard... at least for me! But I knew it would be worth it, and I didn't hesitate to go back to our choir practices for the next weeks!

The plan of a challenging happiness

That Sunday, after that first practice, in relief society, we had a lesson about the plan of salvation. We talked about the council in heaven, where Heavenly Father presented his plan. We knew we would need to leave His presence, that we would have struggles, trials, sufferings, pains, challenges. But we knew that it would be worth it and that after living that challenge, if we do good and we receive the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives, we would be able to return to his presence and live with him forever. When we heard about that plan, we accepted it, and the scriptures says that we SHOUTED OF JOY! We knew that it would be hard and it would require from us to make a lot of efforts, to learn new things, and to have difficult experiences, but WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT IT! And then it hit me! It was exactly what was happening with that musical arrangement! I knew that it would be a challenge for what I was used to! I knew it would be hard for me, that I would need to learn the lyrics of that hymn in English, to be able to sing them fast, to learn my notes. As I said before, I wanted to finish the first practice quickly because I was struggling a little with it... But I knew that I wanted to keep going to the practices and to sing it, which I did! Challenges are exciting, don't you think?

The Ville-Marie ward missionaries graffiti version of the Plan of Salvation on a graffiti wall next to my  house.

In a choir, we are not left alone

Sam's arrangement was amazing! And I was not left alone to sing it! I had a devoted choir director, Andrew Payne, who taught us that song with so much patience, dedication and happiness, even if he was sick and almost losing his voice, he was faithfully there, willing to help us, to make us practice the parts which we were struggling the most, to encourage us and to tell us when we were doing good. Jake Packer, another good musician, helped us too when Andrew, because of his sore throat, wasn't able to do it, even if he was there to tell Jake how to help us. I had a good pianist... Sam... who knew what he was playing because, well, it was HIS arrangement! If we were paying attention to Andrew and listening to the notes that Sam was playing, and following the music sheets, we were able to learn our parts and to know how to make it. It was important to look at the director to sing all together, in harmony. And of course I had each member of the choir. It was impossible to make of that music a success without the voices of each member of our choir! Each soprano, each alto, each tenor and each base made it become what it had to become. Each voice made a difference. Each voice had a part to play in that song. Each time that someone else came in the room and joined us to sing, we were feeling so much happiness, because it meant that someone else would be there to sing with us, to make it sound better, and even to help us to sing correctly (at least is how I was feeling when other altos came; I didn't feel alone, I felt more confident, knowing that I would have someone else to sing by my side, and that if I made a mistake, the other one would help to hide it, or if I needed to breathe, that would be someone else who would be singing our part for the second that I would be breathing, and just to feel support as we were singing our part). It's so much better when we are not alone!

Life is the same! It's challenging... but so exciting! And we knew it before we came, but WE WANTED TO BE PART OF THAT, we accepted the challenge! Sometimes we get discouraged and it's so hard that we look forward to the end of it, but life is so good and we have so many opportunities and experiences to learn and grow that it is important to live every second of it and to take those opportunities, instead of trying to "skip the practices". It is a test, and we can get so much from it!

The perfect composer and his perfect arrangement

A loving Heavenly Father created this plan, this "arrangement", because He is wise, and he knows that is the best for us! He knows how great could be the result! His plan is perfect... we just have to join it and to play our part! He wrote his own music sheets, the scriptures, inspired to his prophets, and if we read them, we can learn more of that plan. We sometimes need to write some notes on our sheets as reminders of what or how we need to sing in life. But we need to use it, to follow it, and to remember those things that would help us to sing our part well.

The perfect director and his faithful servants

And we are not left alone in this experience! We have a devoted Savior who, with so much patience, devotion and happiness, is there to lead us, to teach us, to show us how to "sing", how to live, to tell us which parts of the song of our life we need to practice a little more to get it perfectly. Even at the hardest time of His life, in the Gethsemane, "sick and almost losing his voice", He was faithfully there for us, sacrificing himself for us! And we have a prophet, and church leaders, who represent the Savior, who do those things for us and help us to know how to deal with life and how to get those notes to sing well that arrangement! They will tell us what to do with the music sheets, they will explain us how to understand it and they will encourage us to learn to read it, to study it, and to apply the teachings from the scriptures, our music sheets, to be able to sing it well.

The perfect pianist

We have also the Holy Ghost, who is united with the Father and the Son, who knows the plan, he knows the arrangement, and is there, playing his piano, playing every note, to guide us in the right direction. As we pay attention to the director and we listen carefully to the notes that the Holy Ghost plays for us, it becomes easier to learn our parts and to know what to do in every part of our life musical arrangement, and we will make it sound better.

A great choir partnership

And, fortunately, we have our family, our friends, and all those who touch our life for good every day! We are all together in the greatest choir that could exist, and is called life! With our differences, we can all sing the different parts! Every time that someone joins our worldwide choir, we feel happy because we know of the joy that we can feel when we sing this life arrangement, and we want all of our Heavenly Father's children to live that challenging but joyful experience! I'm always telling people to join our ward choir, to embark in that marvelous experience, because I know that it really is a marvelous experience! And life is a marvelous experience too! This is His work and His glory!

Finding joy out of my comfort zone

My previous YSA branch choir, in Montreal,
Quebec (at the same place were we used to
sing with YW/YM more than 10 years ago...)

In Montreal or in Gilbert, I've never been forced to attend choir. I went because I love it! But when the arrangements were to difficult for me, I could have decided to be discouraged and to say that I was not used to it, that I don't know as much about music as other members of the choir do, and to quit the choir, at least for that song. I could have decided to just settle to sing the melody of the hymns I know as a congregation, and maybe to sing the alto part if it wasn't too complicated. But how would I grow and develop my talents if I stay on my comfort zone with that kind of excuses? Isn't the same with life? We can find so many excuses to settle for less that what we have the potential to do or to get. We can get discouraged when life is hard and seems too much for what we are used too. We can give up and not try anymore to find happiness. But remember, WE SHOUTED OF JOY! WE KNEW THE PLAN AND WE ACCEPT IT! BECAUSE WE KNEW IT WOULD BE WORTH IT!

It was worth it!

Three weeks ago we sang that song in our ward! I heard many good comments about it! The Spirit was felt, and it was a good reminder to everyone (members of our ward, visitors, and even us, members of the choir) to do good every day, to serve others, to go to bed every night with a feeling of accomplishment because we had serve someone that day. The challenge was accepted with joy! And the challenge was accomplished with joy! Give me more complicated songs to sing, I will do it! Now, after that experience, I know that I can do it! And that the practices and effort were worth it!

Let's trust in our Heavenly Father's life arrangement, or plan, with the knowledge that we knew it would be hard and a challenge, but that we accepted that plan with joy. Let's follow and pay attention to the teachings, example and directions of our director, our Savior Jesus-Christ, and his servants. Let's listen carefully to the notes that the Holy Ghost plays for us to guide us in the good direction to sing our part. I know that as we do this, we will be able not only to sing well our part of "Have I done any good?", but we will be able, as challenging as it could be, to do good in the world today, and every day of our life, and we will do it with joy! And all these effort will worth it, because they would help us "to live with Him someday"!

I am grateful for this challenging but perfect plan of happiness, and I shout of joy because I know is worth it!

Can you understand why I love wholesome and uplifting music so much? :) Yes, definitely, choir practices are a cherry on my Sundays!

Where can I turn for peace? The power of sacred music... to be in the world but not of it!

I live with a family who is not active in the church anymore, and although they live good principles and are honorable people and respect the fact that I love to live the Gospel that they once used to live, they don't live exactly the same standards that I do or as I do. As every Sunday morning, I was listening this morning to Mormon channel in my room while I was enjoying my regular Sunday morning activities as studying the gospel and writing about it. I love uplifting music; it fills me with deep emotions that bring peace to my heart and make me feel closer to my Savior.

I then went to the bathroom to get ready for church, so I opened my door, and BOUM, I heard that loud rock music! I entered the bathroom quickly and closed the door, but I still could hear some of the music. At that moment I could have just get frustrated and complain because my roommates don't understand how important the Sabbath is to me; or I could just have say to myself: "well, it's a good song, I should just enjoy it, I'm not doing anything bad, it's not my fault if they are listening to it right now, and it's their house, I can't tell them what to do". But I decided not to pay attention to it, and to just get ready as I had planned to do, and to ponder about the songs that I had previously listen on Mormon channel, so I just start to sing them and to ponder about it... I was thinking so deeply about it that I noticed I couldn't even hear the rock music that was playing downstairs anymore.

I had just heard a beautiful arrangement of "Where can I turn for peace?" and as I was pondering about that hymn, I noticed that at that same moment, I was looking for peace. I wasn't living a hard time, my morning had been wonderfully uplifting, I wasn't drawing myself apart with a wounded heart, anger or malice; my aching wasn't growing, I wasn't languish... I mean, I was feeling good all morning, I was already feeling peace! But then, I heard that loud music. It wasn't bad music. But it wasn't the best song to draw me close to my Savior. And instead of letting that ruin my Sabbath morning, I just turned to my Savior for peace, I turned to his teachings and his words shared through the sacred music I had been listening to on Mormon channel.

I was pondering about that and I thought about "being in the world but not of the world" and also about "stay ye in holy places"; and I noticed how sacred music can help us towards that goal. It doesn't matter how surrounded we are with things of the world, it is OUR decision to do the right things and to have peace in our hearts. It doesn't means that we have to go to unholy places and put our spirits in danger. But we still need to live in this world, to be surrounded by things that are not necessarily bad, but, if we partake to much of it or give them more importance than our God, it could lead us to a wrong path and make us being less sensitive to the Spirit. It is so important to have the Holy Ghost in our lives to make right choices and to be where the Lord wants us to be and do what he wants us to do, and sacred music can help us with that; it invites the Spirit, no doubt about that! I noticed how important it is for me to decide which things I will do every day to keep that Spirit in my life and to make of my world a sacred place. As the saying says: "you can't change THE world but you can change YOUR world". And is what I was doing this morning: my roommates can listen all the kind of musics they want any day, even on Sundays, I can't have control on that! But I have control on what I want to listen, and what I want to do! So I will make of my room a sacred place, inside I will listen to inspired music and I will ponder about the Lord and I will pray and I will ponder about ways to follow his example every day. It is MY duty to make of MY Sunday a Holy day. I can't control other's life, but where I have the control at, in my room, in my home with my future family, and any other situations where I can have an influence in those around me, I will keep the Sabbath day and help others to feel that same Spirit. I will turn to the Lord for peace and I will make of my day and the day of others a better day.

It was interesting that I was later trying to decide which Sunday School class I should go at church, and I felt as I should attend the Doctrines of the Gospel class, so I went there. And the topic was "Living righteously in a Wicked world". I remembered that when I had seen that topic a few weeks ago, I had told to myself that I wanted to attend that class, so I was glad I went even if I didn't knew that it was the lesson for today. As I was listening to that lesson, my thoughts went back to the experience I had that morning and how, yes, we need to be careful of where we go, but we need also to find ways to live the gospel in our daily lives, no matter where it is. It made me ponder about how I grew up in Quebec, a place where the church is not as big as here in Arizona. Yes, many things were different, and people's perception about religion is often not the best, but that didn't stopped me to believe and to live my standards. Now I am in Arizona, the church is more present, but it doesn't mean that I'm saved and that I don't need to do any effort to live the gospel daily. I am actually grateful to live with a family who knows a lot about the church, who respect it but who doesn't live it as I do, because that gives me more motivation to live the gospel daily and to be an example. They won't force me to go to church every Sunday, they won't remind me to do my visiting teaching, they won't even think about praying to bless the food or before leaving home as I use to do with my family in Montreal, they don't have a family home evening, they won't tell me to go to the temple and they are not watching me to be sure they I study my scriptures every morning. But these are things that I am doing by myself because I want to do it and to live them! That is what is important, that no matter our situation, we still live the gospel everyday, no because someone is forcing us to do it, but because we love the Lord and we want to follow him and to be an example of the believers. We can't change the world, but we can't change OUR world. I invite you to learn more about making of our world a holy place, or standing in holy places, in this talk, Your Holy Places, by sister Dibbs at the last Young Women general conference.

When I went back to my room after that experience this morning, Mormon channel was still playing and I finished to get ready while listening to it. As each time I listen to it, I was feeling so good! I was feeling peace! And this time it was even more meaningful to me because I realized how powerful sacred music is to help us to remember the Savior and to keep a good attitude in any situation of our life. It really gives us strength and our desire to do good and to live the gospel increases when we listen to it and when we let our hearts be touched by those beautiful melodies. I was so grateful that I knelt in my room and offered a prayer of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the wonderful sacred music and for how it helps my Sundays to be a better day! And that experience definitely helped me to have a better Sabbath. I got to church happy and with a desire to grow and to praise the Lord. I had other toppings on my Sunday today, which I will probably write about later in other posts, but because of that experience and the wonderful feeling that sacred and inspired music brought to me this morning, my spirit was ready to partake of the sacrament and renew my covenants, to serve those who needed my help in different ways in my ward today, and to be uplifted by marvelous testimonies that were shared by the wonderful members from my ward.

So, if there is a Sunday where you are seeking for ways to be uplifted and to feel the presence of the Spirit, or any other day of the week, and you are asking yourself: "Where can I turn for peace?". Let me give you a suggestion: In sacred music! Listen to Mormon Channel, a delicious topping that I put weekly on my Sunday! ;)

Two delicious cherries on the top on the same glorious Sunday: the House of the Lord and the Prophet of the Lord

Won't you like to get two cherries or extra topping on your sundae? Well, that's what happened to me today! I got two of the best cherries or toppings ever on the top of my Sunday, and I still pinching myself to be sure that this is not a dream!

So today is the Gilbert Temple dedication. I was looking forward for that moment since the first time I saw the land where the temple is now build. When I learned that the dedication was scheduled for the time when I would be already here, I was feeling already really blessed and excited. I won't share all the experiences I had since then with this temple, because I have another blog about my temple adventures. Here I just want to share how this temple and the prophet, had been my topping on my Sunday in this glorious Sabbath day.

I had plan to attend the dedication from a stake center, as the majority of the members of the temple district, and that was enough for me! I knew that president Monson would be there, but to know that he would be close to where I live was already a great blessing, so I wasn't dissapointed to know that I would had to watch it in a stake center instead of the temple. I had already attend the Montreal temple dedication almost 14 years ago so it was ok that others would get that opportunity here. I was feeling so much joy, and I was happy to know that I would witness that event, even if it was a couple of miles away from where it would be happening. It would be the peanuts on my Sunday.

And then, I was offered the opportunity to help at the temple the morning of the dedication, and my "reward" for volunteering was to attend the dedication INSIDE the temple! I looked calm but inside I was shouting of joy!!!! How me, a young woman from Montreal who moved here only a few months ago is getting this opportunity?!?! That was so much better that what I thought! And of course, I accepted the offer! Yay, it was the chocolate syrup that I already knew I would have on my Sunday. It was going to be delicious!

So this morning when I woke up, my first thought was: "today is the day! This is going to be one of the most glorious Sabbath I could ever imagine!" I had a big smile on my face, thinking about how yummy my Sunday was going to be! 

So I got ready, and before the sun showed up, I walked to the temple and helped. I was putting shoe coverings on those who were coming inside the temple. I will share some thoughts about it that wonderful experience on my temple blog later, but it was an amazing opportunity to serve. I was at the main entrance, and from there I had a view of the choir for the cornerstone ceremony, and I was able to hear them singing. I also saw president Eyring coming in, as president Lesueur and his wife (the temple president and matron), elder Callister, and all those who were going to the celestial room for the morning session. What a blessing! Yes, it was like some strawberries, bananas, pinneapple and mangos on my Sunday! So good!!

And then someone special got there: the prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson! We had been told to let him walked in without trying to shake his hand, get a picture, or things like that, unless he takes the initiative to do it. Come on, it was the prophet of the Lord, we had to behave! So those who were there with me we were standing, and looking with reverence to this amazing men. I was so close to him! oh yeah! It was my extra chocolate pieces on my Sunday (I love chocolate... just saying...).

And then, it happened: he stretched his hand to shake the hand of the first person in line... when I saw that I thought: is he really doing it? Would he really shake our hands? Would he really shake MY hand? I saw him coming closer, shaking the hands of the others, until he got in front on me, and shook MY hand! Touching the hand of this man that I admire and love so much was so humbling! I could feel the deep love he has for each of God's children. But the most amazing thing was that I knew he was a prophet of God. And I didn't knew it because I shook his hand! I knew it before that happened, I knew it since he was called as a prophet, and that knowledge had become stronger as I've been learning more about his life and his teachings. If I hadn't shook his hand that wouldn't change anything to that testimony I have of the prophet of God, I would still believe that he is the prophet of God. I didn't shook his hand to know if he was a prophet of God and to perhaps decide to follow his teachings if he really was so. No! I shook his hand because, well, he decided to do it, and the excitement I got wasn't because I need to do it to believe in him, or because he was the most "famous" person for LDS people, but because I already knew who he is, and because I love him, and who doesn't like to shake the hand, or hug or just be close to someone we love? It was a sweet experience though, and it was cherry that made me feel grateful for the prophet and for the testimony I have that he is there to watch over the saints and to teach us the teachings from the Lord for our days.

After that, we went inside and waited for the dedication to begin. The feeling was so special! We saw the cornerstone ceremony. It was so sweet to see how the prophet was looking with amazement at the choir. He is so cute! He really loves the saints and if he could, he would shake the hand of every single person in the world and tell them something nice about them. He would really be that kind of person! The music was beautiful too, outside and inside the temple. Definitely they were as a manifestation of angels! The talks that were given inspired me and made me feel so desirous to keep being part of the blessings of the Gilbert Temple. Many of the thoughts that were shared were things that I had been pondering about this past week as I was preparing for the dedication. I don't want to talk to much about it, because I'm keeping it for my temple blog, but this was the best of my Sunday! I got to listen to the dedicatory prayer. I got to wave my handkerchief of joy because of that great event! When I did that, a warm and strong feeling filled my complete soul! I left the temple with a feeling of joy! I'm not there anymore, but I still feel as in heaven! 

Today was a different Sunday than usual! I didn't had the usuals church meetings. We didn't had a sacrament meeting. I didn't even took the sacrament today, which usually is the most important part of the Sabbath day. But it felt like I did, because I was in a place where I remember my covenants. I was in a place where I ponder about my Savior and his atonement. Without the atonement, any ordinance that we make at the temple would be useful. Without the atonement, the sealing power would be vain. The temple is a testimony of Christ! The temple is there because of the atonement. The temple and the atonement are part of God's plan to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man! 

As I was listening to the dedication, I felt that desire to renew my covenants, the baptismal one as the ones I made at the temple, as I do every Sunday when I partake the sacrament. I want to give the best of myself to follow my Savior Jesus-Christ, to take his name upon me, to always remember him, to keep his commandments, that I would have his Spirit with me. He trusted me enough to allow me to get those cherries on my Sunday, and I want to show him that I will do what he expects from me, and I know that if I do this, I will see his blessings pouring over me like the tears of joy from heaven that were pouring over the 12000 youth during the cultural celebration last night. I'm already feeling it! I already see it! And I want to renew my promise to myself that I would be a temple-worthy member, attending the temple regularly, and that I would follow his prophet's voice! 

I got back home at 11 a.m.... usually at that time I would be getting ready for choir and church. But this Sunday that has started at 4:30 a.m. was already a glorious Sabbath at 11 a.m.! I was feeling as if I had ate a gallon of ice cream with so many good toppings... and two cherries! My soul is full!!! I'm satisfied! This is a glorious Sabbath! I love the temple! I love the prophet! I love the knowledge that my family can be together forever! And I love the Sabbath!