Prophets See Around Corners

 This morning I started listening to a book by Sheri Dew entitled "Prophets See Around Corners." I'm only on chapter three, but I'm learning a lot about prophets and how the Lord prepares them from birth to be able to become His prophet one day.

In chapter three she discusses how prophets are humans who are trying to overcome the natural man like the rest of us are. They have to traverse this world and all of its traps and temptations, too. No man on earth has been perfect except for one man - Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY one who ever will be perfected in this life. Sheri said that the prophets are probably farther along the covenant path than the rest of us, but they are still on the covenant path.

Sheri states: "If prophets, seers, and revelators are fallible just as we are, why, then, should we trust them to lead us? Because they are the LEAST fallible leaders on earth." I believe that to be true! I have learned from my youth to follow the prophet and I don't plan to ever stop until I have graduated from this life into the next.

Prophets past and present have been imperfect. They always will be, but they try their best to do the will of the Lord and to exemplify His characteristics and compassion. Unfortunately, members and non-members alike sometimes criticize them for anything they feel that a prophet did or said that they think was wrong. I wonder how you would feel if you were criticized for every little mistake or decision you ever made. Prophets are in the public eye and are scrutinized by everyone. I can imagine that they are always aware they they are under a microscope in everything they do and say.

President Boyd K. Packer, speaking from personal experience said: "We who have been called to lead the church are ordinary men and women with ordinary capacities. We are sorry for our inadequacies. Sorry we are not better than we are, but this we know, there are councils, and counselors, and quorums to counter-balance the foibles and frailties of man, and in the end, what is given comes because the Lord has spoken it. We know His voice when he speaks."

I, for one, have full faith and trust in the Lord's prophets. I believe they are speaking for the Lord when they counsel us. I believe that if I follow them, I will not be led astray. My prayer is that all will listen to their voices and follow their advice, counsel, and example of righteousness. As we follow them, we are following the Lord. I testify of that!

The Binkie Fairy

 Since Wesley turned 2 years old in January, Cheryl thought she might be ready to be weaned from her binkie. Wesley was very dependent on it and was asking for it all the time. She couldn't sleep without it. Every time she was sad, she needed it. 

Cheryl found a video online about how someone had successfully weaned their child from their binkie so she wanted to give it a try. We have garden boxes in our back yard so Cheryl took Wesley out there and had her bury her binkies right before naptime. (Sorry - blurry pics taken from video) Kessler even got in on it and helped Wesley bury them.

 Wesley was told that the Binkie Fairy would come during her nap and something would grow in their place. She was happy to leave them in the ground and had a big smile on her face.

After her nap, Wesley was taken out to the garden to see what the "Binkie Fairy" left in place of the buried binkies while she was napping. Coming up out of the dirt were some lollipops and cake pops. I wasn't there to witness it, but both kids were excited to receive the fun treats. Miraculously, from that moment on, Wesley was cured of her desire for a binkie. Admittedly, she has asked for it a couple of times and then remembers what happened to them and she was happy to move on to the next activity. I am amazed that she was cured so quickly. 

BEST IDEA EVER!

Kite Flying Analogy

 The other night I read a Berenstain Bears book to Kessler and Wesley about a big red kite. This gave Kessler a desire to fly a kite, so I ordered some kites on Amazon and they arrived on Sunday morning. After Kessler went to bed that night, Alan and I put the kites together and surprised Kessler on Monday with kites ready to fly. Fortunately, it turned out to be a windy morning so we headed to the park down the street to give them a try.

The wind strength was perfect and we were able to get both kites high into the air. 

Just before leaving, there was a moment when Kessler brought his kite too close to the kite I was trying to bring in. Alan noticed that the lines on the two kites were going to cross if Kessler didn't pull his back towards his Grandpa. Alan tried to get Kessler to understand what was happening, which he kinda did, but didn't know how to remedy the situation even though Alan told Kessler repeatedly to run over to where he was standing. Kessler froze and the two kites ended up getting tangled together and the kites came crashing down.

I was thinking about how this kite story kind of parallels our lives. We have a Heavenly Father that sees things clearly (like Alan did) and wants to help us avoid problems and collisions in our lives. Through the scriptures and words from our prophets we are repeatedly given instructions on how we can avoid problems and pitfalls, but if we don't listen or follow their instructions, our lives can come crashing down around us. If Kessler had followed Alan's instructions, there would have been no problem. If we follow our Heavenly Father's instructions, things will end up much better for us than if we just do our own thing and hope for the best. I'm thankful that I know where to turn for life's instructions. I love the scriptures and I love listening to talks from our prophets. It's always better to choose the right and avoid making mistakes in the first place rather than having to pick up the pieces after the crash. Thank goodness that if and when we do fall, we can repent and get back on the right track.  We have such a merciful Father. I love Him more than words can express.