Sand Storm

A few weeks ago I was getting ready to go to the grocery store. I'd been purposefully putting it off so I could get some fresh items for a lunch guest that I had comeing over the next day. As I was about to leave Keith said, "I don't think you should go to the store right now, it is getting stormy." I laughed and thought, "Of course I'm going to the store now, I have my guest coming over and need to get somethings. A little storm isn't going to get in my way." And then I looked outside my window and realized that I couldn't see the school next door and Keith was right. Above is a picture of the storm coming over downtown Phoenix. Google "Pheonix Sand Storm" if you want any more pictures - it was truly amazing.

So, I found myself in a pickle. What was I going to feed my guest? I have food storage - this shouldn't be a big problem; or so I thought. Fortunately, between the fresh cherry tomatoes in my garden and the pasta in my pantry I made something suitable for my guest.

It was a big eye-opener. If my food storage was barely able to get me through one meal, I needed to re-think things a bit.

So, now I'm wondering what everybody else has in their food storage that would be appropriate to feed a guest - you know, something other than bread and beans, and pasta.

We've had two more storms hit since then. . .

...Like the Full Moon

I read this this morning and the words just lept from the page - I can find so many ways to apply the message in my life that my mind is spinning:

"Being only sort of committed to the gospel can lead to frustration, unhappiness, and guilt. This should not apply to us because we are a covenant people ... Nothing can be more imporant than keeping a commitment we have made with the Lord...

Those who are only sort of committed may expect to only sort of receive the blessings of testimony, joy, and peace. The windows of heaven might only be sort of open to them. Wouldn't it be foolish to think, "I'll commit myself 50 pecent now, but when Christ appears at the Second Coming, I'll commit myself 100 percent?


Commitment to our covenants with the Lord is a fruit of our conversion. Commitment to our Saviro and HIs Church builds our character and strengthens our spirt so that when we meet Christ, He will embrace us and say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matt 25:21)


There is a difference between intention and action. THose who only intend to commit may find excuses at every turn. THose who truly commit face their challenges squarely and say to themselves, "Yes, that would be a very good reason to delay, but I made covenants, and so I will do what I have committed to do. " They search the scriptures and earnestly seek the guidance of their Father in Heaven. THey accept and magnify their Church callings. They attend their meetings. They do their home or visiting teaching.


A German proverb says, "Promises are like the full moon. If they are not kept at once, they dimish day by day... Imagine how the world will be blessed and trasformed for good when all members of the Lord's Church live up to their true potential-converted in teh depth of their souls and committed to building the kingdom of God...


It is my prayer that we will have faith, move forward, face our fears and doubts with courage, and say to ourselves, "I'm committed!"

Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, July 2011 Ensign pg 4