JESUS WANTS ME FOR A SUNBEAM

Yesterday and today is the Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) General Conference. We get broadcasts two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, with talks from our Prophet and General Authorities. They are filmed in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City and broadcast to TV stations and Stake Centers all over the world. They are translated into 92 languages so Latter Day Saints all over the world can listen in their own languages.

Yesterday, when President Uchtdorf spoke, he mentioned that he loves the song "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam." This is probably the first Primary song the three-year-old children learn. (I tried to download a video of the song but my skills as a computer competent person are nonexistent.)

The thought immediately came to me that Jesus wants me to be happy--to shine, so to speak--in my life, in my trials, in my encounters with others. I do not shine in my trials. I am not happy in my trials. I am "heavy laden," and "My hands hang down." I sigh. I weep. I want to run away--once I even wrote a story about running away to Texas and described what I would do there. Occasionally, not often, but occasionally, I am even angry. But mostly I worry. Is that a trait of women? Worry? I don't want to worry, I want to have faith.

I am really going to work on my attitude as I feel this was inspiration, sent for me. Jesus wants me to be his sunbeam. Jesus doesn't want me to be his gloomy, doubting, depressed, angry, upset, weeping, horrible person with my feet dragging in the sand and my head hanging down.

Will you help me? Will you be my confidantes? My fellow blooggers who show me by your faith that I can have faith too? I read you blogs and am strengthened as I see you fighting your battles with faith--as I watch you having integrity and courage. We are all in this together, we are all connected.

"I love you and you love me." the next line is, "We are a happy family." As a church, we believe we are all one family. God's children. We are all brothers and sisters.

So, with God as my Father and Jesus as my Savior and with your help, maybe I can become more of a sunbeam. I will hold your hands and be strengthened and sustained.

OUR PROPHET DIED TODAY

What a sad day for us but a glorious day for President Gordon B. Hinckley who will be reunited with his beloved wife. How glorious for him to meet the Savior and the Prophet Joseph Smith. How sad we are for ourselves. Always, it is the ones left behind who feel bad, who grieve, who feel empty and lonely.

He was such an ambassador for living a life of goodness and for courage. He told us many times, "Everything will be all right." He told us this after national tragedies and about personal ones. We believe him, we love him and will miss him. His teachings will be treasured by us forever.

He stood for all things good, for all things of Christ, for keeping the family strong and keeping personal worthiness. He was a man of vision and happiness and humor. He was a worker. He never stopped, never slowed down, he carried a cane and used it to wave to the crowds with.

He was ninety-seven. We love him. There are many tears tonight--and much rejoicing too, much rejoicing for a life well lived.

My son expressed how he felt, growing up under the influence of this loving prophet. Click here to read what he had to say.

Here is the church website

Meridian Magazine article about President Hinckley