Write at the Heart

These chapters in 3rd Nephi are some of THE most beautiful! THIS is Jesus Christ! His compassion, His teachings, his personal ministering to the One, & His prayers to the Father! Yes, the scriptures give us snapshots of utter evil and darkness- and it’s recorded for a reason. These are the last days. We can relate, learn, & prepare. But the scriptures also give us glimpses into the extraordinary light and goodness of the gospel, & what it will be like when Christ comes again. Christ IS coming again! We HAVE this account of Christ’s visit to the Americas because “the multitude did see and hear and bear record” 3 Ne. 17:25 That phrase, “they did bear record,” is in these chapters AGAIN and AGAIN in one form or another! -They did bear record when Christ prayed to the Father for them They did bear record when Jesus wept They did bear record when angels encircled them They did bear record when Christ ascended into heaven They did bear record when the disciples received the Holy ...

A fellow soccer mom struck up a conversation with me the other day. I told her we moved here right before the shut down, and she asked with concern, “Oh wow, so do ya’ll have a good church to go to? You need a good faith family in times like these!” For a second I was tempted to say yes, and leave it at that. But I decided to go for it, “Yes, we do! We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and it was so nice to have a faith family after the move!”  My heart rate went up a bit. What does she think? Is she gonna ask me about a gold Bible? About my sister wives? Does she know what a “Mormon” is? I’m HOW old, and yet explaining my religion is all new to me?! She said she was glad & that she also has a really good church family in her non-denominational faith. And that was it. Whew! I did it! I boldly declared my religion and nobody attacked me! (Yet) Eight months ago we left our Utah “bubble,” so they say, and ventured out to the Midwest. I am 100% falling...

I just listened to the “All In” podcast episode with Randal Wright, and am totally & completely inspired. Maybe you’ve heard of his “3 word journal” idea, but this is a first for me, and it’s EXACTLY what has been on my mind for a couple YEARS now.  I used to blog all the time when my kids were younger, and I cherish those posts more than words can say! Over time, life got busier, and every post became just a catch-up post, losing the raw and real that only writing truly in the “moment” can bring. I felt this voice whispering in my soul, “Erika... You’re missing it.” Meaning, missing those beautiful little slivers of wonder, pockets of joy, nuggets of amusement, enlightening lessons from every day life that you find when you look for them. Blogging about these things not only was my sanity in the craziness that having 6 kids in less than 8 years brings, but it kept my perspective of motherhood one of gratitude, entertainment, and true enjoyment.  I started this account to ...

I’ve always been awful at thinking on my feet. Ask me a difficult question or get in a debate with me and I’ll be like “Uhhh,” but if you give me time to write it down, I could give you a decent answer. I wish I were better at finding words in the moment! When Samuel was cast out of the city, the Lord told him to go back, “and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.” So he climbed the WALL and “cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart... “Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart” What obedience! What trust! What courage! He knew the Lord would put words in his heart. He just had to speak them. “Open your mouths and they shall be filled” D&C 33 Sis. Eubanks once talked about using “your voice and your power to articulate what you know and feel.” It resonated with me a LOT. So did Pres. Nelson’s words, “As a righteous, endowed Latter-day Sai...

I used to be in a biker gang. Yep. Only with less leather and more spandex. Less jackets with skulls and more jerseys with handy back pockets. And chains! Oh, not THOSE kinda chains. Okay, it was more of a group of women cyclists. But biker gang sounds better. Those were good times. We’d train as soon as the weather was warm enough, and one of the best parts of riding was the scenery we’d see along the way. It never got old! Every time we saw something cool we’d shout “NATURE!” bringing it to everyone’s attention in a split second, and together we’d marvel at animals like we were in a National Geographic magazine. It’s fun to share things that make you happy. My daughter got phase 1 braces and a palate expander at age 7 last year for a BAD cross bite. It’s a lot of metal for a little girl! She had the HARDEST time adjusting! While she eventually learned how to eat again, it hasn’t been too fun. Well, we just found out she gets her braces off TOMORROW! You know what she did? She ran aro...

When Amalickiah finally goes down, aren’t you like, hallelujah, that guy was the WORST! And then you remember that his brother Ammoron succeeds him as king and is just as awful. Dang! Moroni is FED UP with the Lamanites and their lies, and it definitely shows in his attempt to negotiate with Ammoron about exchanging prisoners. YOU TELL HIM, MORONI! Yeah, he’s not one to beat around the bush. “I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God...if ye were capable of hearkening unto them; yea, I would tell you concerning that awful hell that awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy brother have been, except ye repent... But as ye have once rejected these things, and have fought against the people of the Lord, even so I may expect you will do it again.” Like, I am TIRED of trying to help you guys turn to God- you don’t listen anyway! “But behold, it supposeth me that I talk to you concerning these things in vain; or it supposeth me that thou art a child of hell” Let me tell ...

I, along with every other parent, am wrestling with what to do with the kids this year for school. I go back and forth, back and forth, and as I seek for answers through prayer, I am frustrated. Why can’t I get like a CLEAR answer for once? Like, BOOM, “Thou shalt do THIS!! THIS is what’s best for your children, THIS path is what I want you to do, and you will NOT ruin your children with THIS PATH!!!” Alas, I’m not hearing that. Sigh. Instead, I’m reading everyone else’s back and forth debates online, trying to get a read of what everyone ELSE is doing... cause I’m kind of a follower. Personal revelation is hard sometimes, yo. And I’d like to get better at it. I really really want to “hear Him” a lot better than I do. Don’t get me wrong, I try, and I have definitely been guided throughout my life. But sometimes it’s just so dang subtle and I am weary of guessing and hoping a certain direction is right... after a few steps in, more clarity always comes, but it requires so much patience!...