"Look unto the rock from whence ye are hewn" 2 Nephi 8 Isaiah 51,52

Our rock is strong and steady. It casts upon our world the light of  God's law. 

Yesterday I received an email from my brother. His grandson had become very ill and was not responding to traditional treatment. His email requested that our family include his family members (grandson and parents) in our prayers and because it was the first Sunday of the month, also in our family fast.

My brother was looking unto the rock from when we were all hewn. Our family has great strength because of our testimony in the Lord Jesus Christ. He understood that our combined faith could only add strength to his own. His email and this reading from 2 Nephi 8 made me reflect on our families rock.

One line is nearly 100 % Scottish and as such as given us the strength through a culture that values friendships and faith. My Grandmother Conkey was a woman that used her great moral authority to be a powerful force in the community. When I think of her and look to her example, my resolve to do more, to do better is strengthened.  I am reminded of how she "knew righteousness," and how the Lord had written his law upon her heart. (vs7) She never feared the reproach of men nor was she afraid of their reviling(s). (vs 7) Instead, she led the efforts to build a State Park, to improve her small farm community, and to encourage her husband to run for public office. In a day and time when women did not have many educational opportunities, she formed a women's social group that met solely to improve their lives through education.  She also helped others in need and through her smile and love for each of us, instilled a bright "gladness and joy."

My Grandfather Conkey's line, also nearly 80% Scottish also has taught me to "put on the strength and arm of the Lord." His faith in me was unfettered. I still have numerous letters of encouragement from him urging me to express my voice, to write and experience the joy of the creativity. His life was not easy and though he never formerly proclaimed his allegiance to religious faith, his life speaks to differ. Through perseverance and faith in one another, he and grandmother built their own Eden from the Michigan wetlands. They established the base for my father's family history work, created strong family ties between their children and showed all of us how to find the joy midst the angst of hard work. What I remember most about him was how his love for my grandmother stood above all other loves and desires in his life. His example of faith and devotion to her is a rock we all attempt to emulate.

My grandmother taught me that women
 have within them the power of a great moral force. 

Other family lines bring their own stories of faith. Each family has it's own rock to which we may look as we journey out into the pathways of our lives. My mother's line stands strong with English and German rocks. These stories bring renewed commitment and remind us of our God given strengths and gifts. Some family rocks stand taller and stronger, but no matter the strength or the height each has its own purpose. Isaiah helps us remember to remember the solid foundation that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ brings to our lives.  Isaiah wanted us to remember that the God of Abraham brings us security, comfort, joy, gladness, strength and above all eternal salvation.

In the illness of their child, my niece had a need that made us reflect on our own immortality and the struggles of life.  Recognizing the strength that comes from a family of faith, they realized the strength of their own rock was being tested. Rather than trying to withstand their trials alone, they chose to utilize the strength of their parental rock. Her parent then utilized the strength of the extended family rock. We all responded with our own prayers and faith imparted for their behalf. The power of prayer knows no distance.

Isaiah wrote prophecies for all time

This particular section of 2 Nephi has been taken from Isaiah 51 and 52. Nephi wanted his brethren to understand their relationship to Abraham and Sarah and remember the foundation of their families strength. Isaiah reminds us that Abraham and Sarah were once in need, once considered a waste place, a wilderness, but the Lord comforted them. (vs 3) I was reminded of their story and how Sarah struggled to conceive, how in more ways than one the Lord brought this first family of faith safety, comfort, thanksgiving, how he dried the red seas (vs10), and made the waves roar for them, for us.(vs15)

Yesterday in Fast and Testimony meeting our Bishop remarked on the importance of viewing life through an eternal lens. Isaiah speaks to this and reminds us how the Lord's "righteousness shall be forever and my salvation from generation to generation."

Prayer helps us draw strength from our rock of faith

As I thought about this next generation and how our family has chosen to be "redeemed of the Lord,"(vs 11) I realized the great blessings and joy that our family has received because of this great rock of faith that we have been hewn from. I realized the great strength that we have garnered first from the Lord and secondly from our beloved family members. I am grateful to family who have chosen to remember "lift their eyes to the heavens," and who "wait pun the lord and put their trust in his arm." (vs 5)

I realized that Isaiah knew our day. He understood that the Lord's law will be a "light for the people." (vs 4) He knew that the eternal path of righteousness leads us out of the desert and into the garden.  A garden wherein a rock of great stature stands. A rock that we all were hewn from and from whence flows the fountain of eternal life.

The Gifts of Prayer Alma 31-33, Enos. JSHistory

My three year old daughter expresses her joy at her birthday gift-
a daisy dress with matching head band-a gift from her grandparents. 

I love gifts. I love most how they change my life for the better. I love how they connect me to family and help create relationships. It seems we always remember the wonderful gifts given us.

Gifts are lovely things. They entice us. They surprise us. They fill us with joy.  Prayer is a gift and like a well presented gift it will surprise us with the joy of God's love in our life.

Gifts were meant to be opened and prayers were meant to be given.  When we take time to open the gift of prayer, the gifts of God make themselves "present" (no pun intended) in our lives. How many of us would receive a gift from a dear and loving friend and then say to them, I'll open it later. God gives us the daily gift of prayer so that he can bless us daily and lead our lives with the guidance of the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Prayer is a gift that brings peace.

Gifts present us with new opportunities and treasures. Prayer does the same. But we must learn how to open the gift of prayer and allow it to help us feel and see God's presence in our lives.

Alma prayed that he and his brethren might have success in their Zoramite people. He understood that when we invite God to be a part of our desired goals, and then invite him through prayer, we invite success. (Alma 31)

Alma prayed

Alma understood the power that prayer brings to one's life work. Alma prayed for strength, (vs30), comfort and patience (vs31), success and the ability to bear their afflictions (vs 32-33), and power and wisdom (vs35) to help them help the missionary work.

When Alma taught the Zoramites (Alma 32) on the hill Onidah in the land of Antionum, he said that he "had never beheld" such a manner of worship. The Zoramites had allowed their pride to alter their beliefs as to whom they prayed and ultimately their manner of prayer.

All of the Zoramites had helped build their synagogues and their tower of prayer known as the Rameumptom. But only one person at a time on one particular day of the week was allowed to offer one rote prayer. And only those members who were rich enough, stylish enough, popular enough, or good enough were allowed to use the Rameumpton. It reminded me a little bit like our modern way of dealing with one another publicly- like playing "king of the Mountain," or a popularity contest.

Their craft of worshiping did not allow for personal prayers, for the hope of redemption, or even for salvation for others not of their faith. In fact it really didn't allow for the salvation of many of the poor of their faith, but it did require the poor to help in the labor and maintenance of their synagogue.

The Praying Mantis is so called because of his
front legs that are ever ready to offer prayer. Anywhere.

When Alma discovers these poor who had been divided out from them and not allowed into the synagogue for worship, he rejoiced at the opportunity to teach them correct principles of prayer.

He taught them that they could use the gift of prayer at any time, in any place, for any purpose
and for any amount of time. He quoted the Old Testament prophet Zenos, "

Thou art merciful, O God, for thous hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness;...when I did cry in my field...thou didst hear me. and in my house, and my closet.
Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them." Alma 33: 3-8

Alma goes on to explain how Zenos' prayers were heard by God in "congregations," or when "cast our or despised by mine enemies." As he explained that the gift of prayer did not require a specific setting or presentation of place, he helped them understand that prayer to God requires a simple sincerity and honesty of heart.

He also explained how Zenos taught how prayer to God the Father is connected to his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ's life was more than an example, Jesus became the mediator between us and God.  Zenos explained, "for thou hast turned they judgments away from me, because of thy son."

Prayer is a gift that is given to us by our loving Heavenly Father. It requires that we thank him, our Heavenly Father for the blessing he sends, then ask Him for what we stand in need of, and then to close our offering in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer is a gift that is given to anyone who believes or desires to believe in God and his son Jesus Christ. It is not reserved for a select few. It is not only for the educated. All that is required is a sincere desire to have a personal relationship with God.

Gifts often bring us new ways of looking at and appreciating the world around us. Sometimes we receive items that have instructions or require work. Prayer requires work. Enos tells us "I cried unto him in mighty prayer...all the day long..and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heaven."(vs4)  Sometimes we don't receive answers in the time or manner that we expected. That is why the answers we receiveare a gift.

Gifts are often misunderstood. In this era of entitlement many believe that gifts should be tailored to the desires of the one who will receive. But gifts were never intended to only appease the insatiable desires of a child's heart. When given and received with humility and with respect gifts can offer great insights into the givers heart. It can help the receiver to grow in ways he would not have known. In fact gifts are meant as a way of guiding us along our earthly journey of growth. They were first given not just for the joy  of receiving the unexpected but also of offering needed items of sustenance and survival.

Prayer is one of those gifts essential for survival. Again Enos taught "for he said unto me: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it." (v15) Prayer provides us with joy and with the opportunity for personal growth. It provides us with insights and new perspectives. But mostly it provides us with a window into God's truth.

Farmers are aware of the power of hard work, knowledge and prayer. Only God can give us all that we truly need.

The prophet Joseph Smith learned firsthand of the power of prayer when he read James 1:5, "If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all me liberally (freely) and upbraideth not." Because he read and believed James invitation to pray, he walked into the woods near Palmyra New York and like Enos knelt in sincere prayer. He asked of God. And he received of God.

Prayer changes things. It's a positive force for good in our lives. Prayer is the gift that keeps on giving.

because thou did obey my voice Gen 22:1-18

Not too long after our son Robert was born, we moved to Tennessee. One morning while the children slept late, I took time and knelt in earnest prayer. I prayed for family, my husband, my children, my parents, and many of the dear friends I had made while living in Knoxville. As I lifted myself up off of my knees, I had the distinct impression that I needed to drop all of my plans for the day and drive over to visit Mary Anne. 


I gathered my children into the car and drove over to my friends home. I remember as I got out of the car I felt myself being wrapped with a love I had not known before. It filled me up, moved me to tears and as I walked toward the house it enveloped me.  I remember knocking on the door and having Mary Anne open the door with a look of astonishment upon her face. "What are you doing here?" she asked boldly but still trying to be polite. I stumbled upon my words, tried to hide my embarrassment and possible misjudgment and finally told her I didn't know, but I felt very impressed to come and ask if I could be of help. 


She then invited me in explained how only a few hours before she had been rear ended. Her car was severely damaged but mostly she was suffering from whiplash and was in great pain. She was angry and hurt because of the financial damage that the accident had caused. Her anger consumed her and  she had refused to pray. So why was I there? To help her pray? We enjoyed a long conversation and before I left I knelt in prayer with her. Her husband (not a believer) did not encourage prayer and she had been overwhelmed as she tried to handle everything on her own. When I first arrived, her anger seemed to be a living beast with which she had been struggling. By the time I left and we had time to talk about our faith and the power of prayer, she was much improved and the battle over anger had been won.

I remember this day not because of the pain and anger my dear friend went through, but because she had been cared for by a higher power. Her astonishment when she answered the door was not because I was there, but because of who my presence represented. I had come to serve her and help her remember God's love for her. She had been trying to handle life alone... until cornered she didn't know who to call or where to turn. God knew. God knew of her need. God had a plan to care for her. God had a plan to help her understand his love for her.  I had been listening and "because ... I did obey .."his" voice." I was able to act as a means to bring relief to my dear friend. As we sat and discussed how this all came about both of our testimonies grew. We realized that the sacrifice of both time and desire was needed for the miracle to occur. I had sacrificed my time and desire to do what I wanted. Mary Anne had sacrificed her need for independence and her will to be angry.

As I pondered what to write about I realized that the real thing that Abraham was being tested on was desire. What was his desire? To have his will over God's? or to have God's will over his own. It is a hard thing to master... this thing we call desire.

Abraham's faith was at a point where he was asked to give up the one thing that God knew he loved the most. He had spent most of his life praying for it: Gen as:2-3; 13: 14-16; 15:5; 17:2,4,7 all reveal the promises that God has made to Abraham concerning his progeny and eternal life. Genesis 22 is the climax of a great story of faith. Here he has all that he has wanted and God does not take it from him, but rather he asks Abraham to give it up. It is the ultimate test of loyalty, obedience and faith. It was meant to help Abraham understand the importance of not only loving and respecting the greater power of God, but also of giving all he had to it.

I could have brushed off my knees that morning and started one of my many projects. Or crossed off many of my "to-do" items that fill my errand list and  are always weighing on me, but I chose to listen.. I chose to follow the less traveled road ...I chose to obey...  and that made all the difference.

What if Abraham had not obeyed? What if he had become angry?  And what if the story had been played out before but we only got the condensed version? I don't mean to sacrilegious, but consider that Abraham might have had the prompting before and chose to ignore it until he was at a place in his faith that he had the strength to do what was required of him. The Lord teaches us "line upon line."I believe it's important for us to realize this possibility because the Bible Stories all come to us in a condensed version. We must consider the time schedule that were written in. We must realize that not all stories play out like a television sit com. We must also realize that this story in Genesis 22 represents the culmination of all of the faith trials that Abraham had endured. We surely did not receive all of them in the book of Genesis. As we surely can not know all of the times the Lord has spoken to him.

The Lord has blessings he will give us when we choose to obey the voice that answers our prayers. Part of the practice of prayer is learning to listen and then distinguish between the voice of our own will over that of the Lord. Consider that the angel of the Lord called a second time to Abraham that because he had not "withheld thy son, thine only son," he would fulfill all of the blessings that he had promised him.

My favorite line is "and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice." 

In my days... in my life... I can't bless "all the nations" by being obedient to the Lord, but I can bless
all the children of my family, all my friends, all of my family.  I can help those I love  remember the importance of not only listening and hearing the Lord's voice (or that of his angels), but of obeying.
It takes courage to overcome fear and discipline to forge courage. It is my prayer that my children, my children's children and my extended network of family and friends will all benefit from the blessing of my choices in life. It is my prayer that like Abraham, I will choose to "obey" my Lord's voice and counsel of wisdom.

Eve's Prayer (1 Timothy 2 )

                                                                   Eve's Prayer

Paul says pray. 

To Eve's daughter 

and man "not deceived" he instructs, 

pray for a quiet and peaceful life. 

Pray for all men. 

Give thanks.

Give supplication.

Pray for intercession. 

Paul says,

to Eve's daughters

adorn not yourselves 

in costly array, 

rather dress yourselves in modesty 

and good works. 

Paul says, 

to Eve's sons, 

Pray everywhere,

with holy hands 

lifted up. 

Paul says, 

daughters should 

take lesson from Mother Eve

and exist 

in silence

in subjection

in teaching

in the rank of being "deceived." 

As a woman I pray

with my handmaiden hands, holy and pure.

I leave my wrath and doubt 

in Eden's Garden

For Paul to consider. 

For my faith is not shamefaced. 

But doth profess godliness. 

And my face doest reflect Mother Eve's choice of life.

I learn with quiet sobriety

not for my deception, 

but for the joy of God's plan for me, 

a woman, a daughter of Eve. 

In charity,

in holiness, 

do I bear the children of the world. 

Knowing that in the birthing of 

God's children God hast saved me, 

a woman, 

to steady the faith,

to silent the subjection, 

and to teach the authority

all as I rock..... the cradle. 

Most assuredly God knew and set to intercede for us when 

from the womb of Eve's daughter Mary,

came the Lord Jesus Christ 

born to mediate,

between the "one God" and man, 

even the sons of Eve. 

I enjoyed Paul's exhortation to prayer. I felt he prayed for the family. He wanted the women to not give heed to the temptations that would cause disruption in the society that depended on a "quiet and peaceable life." He understood the power of women in society and wanted to quiet it so that the church would go forth without disruption.

But did he consider the role of women as the bearers of children. If he had considered this role in a more eternal perspective, he might have understood what I believe, that Eve had choice. She exercised her choice not out of pure deception but out of desire to bring children into the world. How long did she live in the Garden? a thousand years? ?? we don't know. But we do know that she was able to watch over other life. She must have understood the need for procreation. I do not believe that her "deception" was as naive as it appears. I believe she knew that a choice between life eternal and life in the Garden had to be made. One required the sacrifice of the other.

One bestowed gifts that the other could not. With her choice to partake of the fruit of life came the responsibility of bearing life and thus began the journey to eternal life. It would require that God's son receive a body. It would require that someone be able to bear life and intercede between heaven and earth, between body and spirit. As a woman she accepted this role. Man has often scoffed at our childbirth pain. Weather this is because of their inability to comprehend it, or their jealousy at not being able to entertain it, does not matter. Paul, as a man was limited in his understanding of the joy and the saving element that childbirth brings.

Before my children were born, my life's meaning was at best temporal. I enjoyed my life. I loved learning, and enjoyed others immensely, but after the birth of my children, I began an earnest seeking of God's eternal plan. And not alone, but rather with the companion and as a family.