Simplify

“We human beings have a strange tendency to complicate simple things. We set up rules, laws, bylaws, processes, and subprocesses. Eventually, we pile up load after load until we end up under a huge weight of expectations that are so complicated it is difficult to keep track of them, let alone meet them.” -Pres. Uchtdorf (Acting on the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Worldwide Leadership Training, February 2012) 

Do you ever get so caught up in the details of your calling that you neglect or put important family matters on hold? Sisters, this is not the Lord’s plan. There is one calling in life from which we will never be released. That is the calling of wife and mother. But neither does this mean that our responsibilities in our callings must suffer. The Lord will provide a way for us to do all that He asks (see 1 Nephi 3:5-7), and he does not wish for us to neglect our families as we serve. 

May I suggest that there are a few principles we would do well to follow as we seek to fulfill our responsibilities in our families and in our callings? 
* Slow down while still being diligent. (Mosiah 4:27)
 * Simplify. (Alma 37:6) 
* Invite the Spirit. (Alma 17:3 and D&C 50:13-14) 

In the Worldwide Leadership Training from February 2011, there is a wonderful example which I would like to draw your attention to. In the following link at about 2 minutes 30 seconds in, there is a video which talks about spiritual preparation. http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/worldwide-leadership-training/2011/02?lang=eng&vid=779971295001&pkey=AQ%2E%2E,AAAAD5C7cik%2E,NkEKrBzbuXJBcGJrgsDFjLEiJ-nXhUBl&pid=610705729001 

What I loved about this video is how it showed that this sister fulfilled her responsibilities for her calling “while continuing to put the needs of her own family first” and “while applying the things she was learning in her own life”. Sisters we can serve and receive inspiration for our callings while taking care of our families and while fulfilling our own personal spiritual needs. Sisters, let us slow down and simplify our lives. And then let us be sure that we are doing those things which invite the spirit into our lives. We all know what those things are. I know that as we do this and seek to care for our families’ needs and especially our own spiritual needs first--even as we are pondering on how to best meet the needs of those we serve in our callings--we will be blessed with inspiration throughout our day and the Lord will give us direction and answers line up line as we need them. 
Thank you for your diligence, your care and concern for the children and families in your wards, and for your carefulness in living close to the spirit. These things bless the lives of us all. May the Lord continue to bless us each in our efforts, and may our families also be blessed as we serve. 

My love to you all. 
-Sister Colburn 

Serving Families

In our latest Worldwide Leadership training, we were given counsel concerning families. Consider these words from President Nelson’s talk.

“Our task to defend the family is not an easy one. Trends in the world diminish the significance of the family.”

“In reality, we are raising our children in enemy-occupied territory. The homes of our members must become the primary sanctuaries of our faith, where each can be safe from the sins of the world.”

“Three times in sacred scripture the warning is made that “the whole earth would be utterly wasted” at the Lord’s return if certain conditions were not in place (see D&C 2:3; 138:48; Joseph Smith—History 1:39). In each instance, that warning relates to the condition of the human family without the sealing ordinances of the temple. Without these ordinances of exaltation, the purposes of creation would not be realized.”

Those are pretty powerful words on the importance of families. As we serve the children in our Primaries, we must always keep in mind that we are serving families. In line with counsel from this same meeting, we must seek first to understand (see Elder Uchtdorf’s talk). Consider, what are you doing to understand the needs of the families in your ward? What are you doing to “turn the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:5-6)? What are you doing to support families, to help the children to feel supported within their families? We must be careful that we do not attempt to reach past or supplant the parent in order to reach the child. This may sometimes be difficult with some families, but I know that as we seek the Lord’s help we can find ways to strengthen the families of all children in our Primaries...remembering that the child’s family is and needs to be their primary sanctuary from the “enemy-occupied territory” of the world and that “no other instrumentality can take its place.” (see The Family: A Proclamation To The World).

Thank you for all of your tireless effort in serving the children and their families. Often it is through the child that the parent will be reached and brought into activity. This was so in the case of my own husband, and it has been an immense blessing in the lives of my children and in my own life. I am ever thankful for it.

My love to you.

-Sister Colburn

Preparing Spiritually and Teaching by the Spirit

The following video teaches us about the importance of preparing spiritually in our callings and in our families. http://www.lds.org/service/leadership/prepare-spiritually?lang=eng
I love the scripture which was used to begin the video.
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23

It brings to mind another scriptural account which is similar.

“And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.” Luke 9:28

The first scripture is a great reminder and example to us to take time out for spiritual communion and feasting so that we can be better prepared to teach with the spirit. The second is similar, only this time Jesus takes his disciples with him. We too can bring those we teach with us to as we “go up into a mountain to pray”. We can help those whom we teach to feel the spirit so that they also say as Peter did “it is good for us to be here”. (Luke 9:33)

Consider these words from ‘Teaching, No Greater Call concerning the importance of the Spirit in our teaching.

“The spirit of God speaking to the spirit of man has power to impart truth with greater effect and understanding than the truth can be imparted by personal contact even with heavenly beings. Through the Holy Ghost the truth is woven into the very fibre and sinews of the body so that it cannot be forgotten.”
– Joseph Fielding Smith (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 41)

“If you accomplish nothing else in your relationship with your students than to help them recognize and follow the promptings of the Spirit, you will bless their lives immeasurably and eternally.”
–Elder Richard G. Scott (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 48)

“Parents and teachers, our efforts to help our children establish a heritage of rich spiritual memories are never wasted...They will remember what they know and what they have felt. They will remember their identity as children of Heavenly Father, who sent them here with a divine purpose.”
–Sister Susan L. Warner, former counselor in Primary general presidency (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 6)

I know that as you prepare yourselves spiritually, you will have the ability to bring a feast to those whom you teach so that they will desire to know what you know, and to feel what you feel...and you will aid them in knowing and feeling of the spirit in their own lives. This is the essence of all good teaching.

My love to you.
-Sister Colburn