police week

Joe and I were able to go up to Phoenix and attend a orientation for what to expect at National Cops Week in Washington, DC. Yowza! I am an emotional wreck! We met all the families in Arizona who have been affected by their officer being killed in the line of duty. So many people. So many lives shattered. One thing I learned: I am not crazy.

What I've learned this week in my spiritual readings:

Police Week will be an amazingly hard, beautiful, heartbreaking experience, but I'm almost eager to get it over with. We were warned again and again that whatever scab we have formed from our officers' death will be ripped off. But I will be around my family and others that COMPLETELY understand.

BofM365: 2 Nephi 2:22-3:5

Day 39

Q: What insights about parenting do we learn from this section?

There are good days and bad days; we have the bad so we can cherish the good.

BofM365: 2 Nephi 1:1-12

Day 35

Q: How have the American continents been kept sacred?

The Americas weren't discovered and populated by other nations for a long long time. This protected the American continents from wars and contentions. When we fought for freedom from Britain, our fore fathers believed in and worshipped God; creating a constitution inspired by Him.

BofM365: 1 Nephi 22:11-31

Day 34

Q: What are some things you are looking forward to during the Second Coming and the Millennium?

AMBER: I'm looking forward to having Jesus Christ back on the Earth, where we can "dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel."

LIZ: I'm looking forward to being able to trust strangers, listening to the wisdom of children, and being able to experience Christ with all of my physical senses; maybe except for taste, I'll resist the urge to lick Him! I'm looking forward to feeling safe too. So much worry and anxiety comes from feelings of not feeling safe.

AMBER: Feeling safe to be yourself, to approach complete strangers no matter their race, to let my kids roam free to explore, etc. Joe and I were talking about recognizing the savior when he comes again. There is no doubt in my mind that I will recognize him because as I try to become more like him my other senses will kick in and help.

BofM365: 1 Nephi 21:22-22:10

Day 33

Q: What does it mean that the Gentiles well nurse Israel back to health? What are some examples you have noticed?

LIZ: "The last will be first and the first will be last." Members of the church will bring the gospel to the literal descendants of Jacob--Hebrews, Jews, and Ephramites alike. Some examples would be the conversions of individuals around the world.

AMBER: Joe said they were converting people in Mongolia from every tribe! The tribes of Israel are literally being gathered.

BofM365: 1 Nephi 21:1-21

Day 32

Q: When have you been a missionary in your everyday life?

Living as a Latter-day Saint in a predominately non-LDS community sets me and my family a part and opens us up to answer questions.

BofM365: 1 Nephi 20:1-22

Day 31

Q: How have you been refined by the Lord and what have you gained from the experience?

AMBER: Oh boy. It feels like I'm in the midst of being refined and would like to get out of the fire! Verse 18: "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as thew aves of the sea;" Even during those refining moments, if we have prepared our lamps and filled it with oil, we can feel that peace only the Savior can give us during those refining moments.

LIZ: I was reading in 1 Nephi 20:22 and it has given me cause to ponder: why is it that the wicked never find peace? What is it about turning away from the Lord that inhibits our ability to experience tranquility and a sense of calmness?

AMBER: I've been watching a lot of documentaries. Some about killers. In each show they talk about how the killers find "peace" in the evil acts they commit.

LIZ: We know Satan can mimic things of the Spirit and if these killers were truly feeling peace it would only seem logical that they wouldn't have to commit additional murders to find it again. Similar to pleasure vs. joy. One is short lived, the other is eternal.