I Love My Parents

My parents are in town! We love when they come to visit—especially when they are BOTH able to come. Our children have been looking forward to it for weeks. And, honestly, so have I.

You see, to borrow a phrase from Nephi, I was ‘born of goodly parents.’ My dad and mom love Jesus Christ and they live according to His gospel. When I was a child, I did not fully appreciate their goodness. Even as an adult, I’m not sure I fully comprehend the blessing of having such wonderful parents. But, my heart swells whenever I consider that God sent me to them. I do not know what I did to deserve such a blessing, but I am eternally grateful.

~Brother McLay

Thought Bubble Thursday

Are you having one of those days?

I am.

Nothing is going quite like it should. I'm tired.

To commemorate this nasty day, I thought I'd share...

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My seven-step solution to kick "The Frump"

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1. Grab a big bowl of popcorn.

2. Plop onto a comfy sofa and eat it for six minutes. Yes, only six.

3. After six minutes, call a friend (they might be having the same kind of day)

3. Say, "I know this sounds really wacky, but could I read a scripture to you?"

4. Read D&C 61:36

5. Ask them to tell you of a time when they felt the Lord 'in their midst.' Tell them of a time when you did.

6. Say "Thank You," then hang up the phone.

7. Throw away the popcorn, get up off the couch and get to work. Do your homework, help your mom, go for a jog, finish scouts or young women, visit someone who needs you. It doesn't matter what you do. Just do something good.

"...be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you" ~D&C 61:36

You. Are. Loved.

~Sister McLay

Thought Bubble Thursday

“The Peaceable Things in Less Peaceful Times”

I recently reviewed some remarks given by President Henry B. Eyring in February 2003. At the time, he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and was introducing the keynote speaker, Gordon B. Hinckley, at a fireside for Seminary and Institute teachers. His remarks are titled, “The Spirit Must Be Our Constant Companion” (An Evening With President Gordon B. Hinckley, 7 February 2003).

I was touched as I pondered the significance of the Holy Spirit in my life. In every role of my life—husband, father, Seminary teacher, bishopric member, son, brother, friend, etc.—the Spirit is essential. Without the Spirit, I am less effective—even unsuccessful. With the Spirit, I can do everything that God wants me to do, and I can do it in His way, and with His power. Speaking specifically to teachers of youth and young single adults, President Eyring said:

“…Knowing how to get the Spirit matters so much for us. What will keep our students pure and at peace in the world they face is more than knowing the gospel and the world of God. It is more than knowing the wonderful organization, the inspiring history, and the great leaders of the Church. They must choose obedience to the Lord’s commandments in the face of greater temptations and trials. They must do it out of faith in Jesus Christ. And that faith can only come through the witness of the Spirit.”

Truer words have never been spoken. We must live worthy so that we can have the Spirit as our constant companion. We must live in a manner that allows the teachings of the Savior to sink deep into our hearts. We must repent when we sin. Also, as President Eyring teaches, “it takes prayer offered in faith and it takes obedience to the commandments of God.”

The world today is rarely friendly toward the things of righteousness. Yet, we can live above the evil influences that would harm us. Indeed, as President Eyring teaches, as we live and work and obey we “will find that the Spirit is teaching [us] the peaceable things in less peaceful times.”

May we so live and be so blessed.

~Brother McLay

Thught Bubble Thursday

Love, Bless, Do Good, and Pray....for Them?

This morning as I was getting ready for work, I was thinking about what happened on September 11, 2001. As I buttoned up my white shirt, tears began to well up in my eyes. I thought of the thousands who passed away that day, and the millions that were affected by those awful events. Then, I began thinking about the animosity, contention, and hatred that would lead to such horrific events.

I flashed back to a time when I was in Israel with my dear friend, Clark Anderson. We were searching for a meat market in the old city. We were lost and stopped to ask a man for directions. Initially, he was very friendly as he began to give directions in very broken English. Then he stopped, suddenly, and said, “You American?” We smiled and nodded—half expecting, I think, a high five or a ‘right on.” Instead, a disgusted look came to his face and he suddenly and hatefully said, “I kill your children! Go!” We stood stunned as he motioned for us to leave. I fought feelings of anger and pride as we walked away.

As I processed that experience, and as I stood pondered this morning, I was reminded of the words of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Matthew 5:44, He taught:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”

It’s not easy living a higher law. In fact, at times it is downright difficult. But I know that the teachings of Jesus our true. I took comfort in his words this morning. Remembering them gave me strength. So, instead of being angry…I offered a silent prayer. I know He heard me, and I felt His comforting spirit.

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and testify that it is true!

Love,
Brother McLay

How Can I Please the Lord?

Recently, I have pondered one of my favorite Old Testament scriptures, Micah 6:8:

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

I first discovered this scripture as a missionary in Portugal. An excellent missionary, Elder Jason Smith, shared it with me and it has been with me ever since. The beauty of Micah’s words, to me, is found in their simplicity. In the preceding verses (6-7), he rhetorically asks the question “What can I do to please God?” He wonders if offerings of calves and rams, or ten thousands rivers of oil will please him. Or, what if he gave his firstborn—would that be enough? And then, in verse 8, he gives the answer to the question: HOW CAN I PLEASE THE LORD? His answer is threefold:

1) Do justly
2) Love mercy
3) Walk humbly with Him.

While there are several ways to liken this scripture unto us (see 1 Nephi 19:23), the heart of Micah’s counsel is summarized, for me, with three corresponding scriptures:

1) John 14:15—“If you love me, keep my commandments.” If we truly love the Lord, we will be obedient. We will do right by Him.
2) 1 Nephi 1:20—“…the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He hath chosen....” There are at least two ways to “love mercy,” 1) We can love that we receive mercy (which is easy for most of us to do), and 2) we can learn to love to SHOW mercy to others (something that requires much greater effort).
3) Moses 7:69—“And Enoch and all his people walked with God….” I know that it is possible to walk with God. Only a humble person would choose to walk with Him. And, walking with Him helps us to remain humble!

I am grateful beyond words for the scriptures. With all my heart, I love them. We are blessed to have them in our lives! I invite you to join me in daily seeking to follow the counsel of Micah. I know the Lord lives and that He loves us. Let’s please and praise Him every day!

Go Clean Your Room!

Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God. ~D&C 88:119

After painting our house one day, Brother McLay put everything in our daughter's room back...just-so. Our daughter Alyssa was thrilled. "Oh! Mom! I love it when it's empty like this." The funniest thing happens when you clean your room, your locker, your desk...you sometimes find that you've been able to get your thoughts in order, work out your worries, and free up your concerns, too.

So, sponsored by mom's around the world, Sister McLay's Thought Bubble Thursday is this...

Clean Your Room. You never know what you'll find.

Love you!

~Sister McLay

The Best Laid Plans

The best laid schemes of mice and men, Go often askew... and that's...o.k.

-Quote by Robert Burns & Sister McLay

Do you have plans? I have plans. A lot of plans. My calendar is chock full of them. A box on paper full of things that must be done on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. But I've got other plans, too. These ones aren't penciled into the tidy squares of my daytimes. These are the big plans. Mostly they are quiet ideas I've conjured up and tucked somewhere near the back lobe of my brain. Ideas like: "I plan to one day be a mom twho never raises her voice and always wears shining, silver jewelry with immense style." or "I plan to live in an ivy-covered cottage on Prince Edward Island and spend my days reading classic literature." Don't I have such rosy, rosy plans? And, there's more where those came from.

Sometimes we get so busy dreaming about the amazing people we'll one day become that we forget to see all of the little ways the Lord is trying to mold us...today.

Alma 34:38 begins, "that ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye recieve it..." It's easy to contend--to fight--against the Holy Ghost when you're in the middle of making big plans for yourself. However, this scripture entreats us to stop putting up a fight, and to recieve the Holy Ghost. This means:

• Making our plans with a Companion who see the big picture. The eternal one.
• Opening our minds, and hearts, and calendars to the quiet, sometimes unexpected, whisperings of the Holy Ghost.
• Writing our plans with our pencil and Heavenly Father's divine hand.
• Rewriting our plans using Heavenly Father's remarkably all-knowing editing program.
• Trusting that God sees not only what we want to be--but all that we can become.

...But that ye recieve it...and live in thanksgiving daily for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you...

I will likely never become the dainty, style-infested lady I'd imagined in my starry-eyed plan for life. But, I do know--as I 'contend no more' against the unique plans God has prepared-that he will lead me into paths made perfect...and made perfect just for me.