Come to my NEW BLOG!

Thank you for some great years at this blog! I have now merged my blog and my website together - so please come and visit me there! I'll share all about my speaking trips, books, CDs, and life at www.MegJohnsonSpeaks.com - the blog is the homepage! I'll also have a quote of the day because, well, I just really like short snippets of motivation like good quotes so I thought I'd share. Come and visit me and subscribe there because I won't be posting to this blog anymore!! :)Meg

If horses aren't in heaven, I ain't goin!

On the last day of class, I had my seminary students write down their grades (for home reading, participation and such) as well as respond to a few comments like telling me their favorite lesson, a time they felt the Spirit, and how they’ve been bettered by the class.

I love reading these, but I especially love reading any additional comments some of my students made!

One of these great comments came from one of my students who looked pained most days in class – I thought seminary must not be his thing, but as I got to know him more, I learned that most things are not his thing. Most things, that is, except horses.

Horses and anything that has to do with horses.

My first inkling that horses were his thing was when he got up during devotional to share a scripture. As he started to preface the scripture with a bold testimony, I was blown away. I didn’t realize he was such a scriptural powerhouse!

Confidently, he said, “If we all keep the commandments we will receive God’s greatest blessing.” At this point, I was sure he would share a scripture about eternal life, but he continued. “In D&C 62:7 we read about this greatest of all the blessings God gives: ‘I the Lord, am willing, if any among you desire to ride upon horses, or upon mules, or in chariots, he shall receive this blessing, if he receive it from the hand of the Lord, with a thankful heart in all things.’”

I was laughing so hard (in my mind) that I don’t remember how he finished. I just remember that I saw him smile as he sat down.

As the semester went on, I learned that he knew every horse scripture in any book of scripture! He was the ‘strong-but-silent’ type, so unless we were discussing horses or something that had to do with horses, he appeared to just endure me and my lessons.

I was sure that because I wasn’t his animal science teacher or ranching buddy I’d never make his top 5 favorite people, but I must rank SOMEWHERE because when he turned in his grading sheet, he added a short comment at the end - offering me one of the greatest things he could ever offer me in all the eternities!

On the bottom of his page, he wrote: 

And oh, I will.

Doodling

I spoke the other day at a single adult fireside, which means everyone there (all 450-500 people) was 30+ and single. It's a pretty fun group and I shared a lot about trials (this group has the worst ones, I think) and service - my favorite topic. 

Afterward there was the longest lineup of people to visit with me. It went from the stand all the way to the back of the pews. People came and thanked me and shared a little about themselves. I liked meeting so many people with unique circumstances and interesting personalities. Some of them were quirky and fun - I even got proposed to! 

One man came up and said how he doodled the whole time I spoke. I wasn't sure what to say to that, my first thought was that I had truly bored him. Then I wondered why he would have waited in the line to tell me how boring I was. 

Then he showed me WHAT he had doodled:

 

It was ME speaking! I was blown away, it was so cool. There were many people crowding around us wanting to see what new creation he did this time; apparently he doodles for every speaker. 

He showed me another cartoon he drew. It was of me, but more of one of the stories I shared. It was the story about getting into my car but falling into a rain puddle and how an old lady picked me up out of it. I loved it! 

 

The man's name is A.D. Whipple. And he can doodle during my talks anytime he wants!

Dirty, Dirty Dog

This is our super cute dog, Amp. 

He plays hard ad sleeps hard. 

This is him laying on the floor in the kitchen 

on his new favorite rope toy:

But sometimes he isn't so super cute. 

Sometimes he's a little twerp. 

Sometimes he plays a little too hard and this is what 

he looks like when he comes back inside:

Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) mentioned that 

poems came to mind when he watched his cats. 

I don't have any cats, but I assume it might work 

with pretty much any pet. So here goes my best haiku:

Dirty, dirty dog.

What the heck were you thinking?

Furry, little punk.

Seminary Teacher

Yesterday was my last day as a seminary teacher!

It has been a fun 2 years, beginning with a New Year's resolution to speak at EFY and ending with a few tears as I pulled out of the Fremont High School seminary parking lot.

I would have stayed longer, but after quite a few prayers, Whit and I felt like it was a good time to end. I feel strongly like I'm supposed to focus on writing. I've got another book being released in August and I am starting to write another one today!

I was super blessed the whole time I was teaching. I never (ever) got sick anytime I had to teach (I did a couple weekends and Christmas break, but I never missed class because I didn't feel well). And, the biggest blessing of all was that I never - ever - got cold. For those of you that don't know, spinal cord injuries like me can't control our temperature and so I am often, nay, always cold.But it was a crazy phenomena that I was NEVER cold when I taught and NEVER had to have a heater in my classroom. I was cold during my prep periods and during assemblies and such, but never in the classroom. It was awesome.

Crazy blessing, too, that I didn't realize, was that my wheelchair was always working. My cushion has been going flat for the last week, but it never went flat at school. Only after school would it deflate. This morning, my first day as a non seminary teacher, I could barely push my chair at all! It was nuts. Whit had to dismantle it and oil it up. I guess my magically working wheelchair blessing is no more because I don't need it.

I am going to miss my beautiful students and my beautiful faculty. It was such a fun time!

Christmas Hats

I thought this hat was the coolest gift for my husband! I had it specially made for him and it took me a long time to choose the right colors - of the hat and the words and the basketballs. But it was so worth it to see his face on Christmas when he opened it!

...his totally confused face.

He started to laugh - a weird reaction, I thought, especially weird after the initial look of confusion he had. He got up and left the couch, leaving me a little bewildered, but not for too long because he came back into the living room with a hat that looked almost identical.

Apparently I had "specially" designed the exact same hat for him last year!

I would like to blame this on old age, but I'm only 30.
I'd like to say this was a "blonde moment," but I'm brunette.

Oh well. It looks like now we have matching hats!

Christmas Natvity Lesson

Tonight for Christmas Eve, my family read the Christmas story and then read old testament scriptures and modern day prophetic quotes about each element of the Nativity. It was so great because all the prophets - ancient and modern - focus on this singular event in history and I wanted to share.

Virgin Mary
1 Nephi 11:14-18, Alma 7:10

“…some few of the greatest characters of scripture have been women of integrity, accomplishment, and faith.

We have Esther, Naomi, and Ruth of the Old Testament. We have Sariah of the Book of Mormon. We have Mary, the very mother of the Redeemer of the world. We have her as the chosen of God, described by Nephi as “a virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins” (1 Ne. 11:15).
She it was who carried the child Jesus into Egypt to save His life from the wrath of Herod. She it was who nurtured Him in His boyhood and young manhood. She stood before Him when His pain-wracked body hung upon the cross on Calvary’s hill. In His suffering He said to her, “Woman, behold thy son!” And to His disciple in a plea that he care for her, He said, “Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26–27).

The women in our lives are creatures endowed with particular qualities, divine qualities, which cause them to reach out in kindness and with love to those about them. We can encourage that outreach if we will give them opportunity to give expression to the talents and impulses that lie within them. In our old age my beloved companion said to me quietly one evening, ‘You have always given me wings to fly, and I have loved you for it.’

“Women are such a necessary part of the plan of happiness which our Heavenly Father has outlined for us. That plan cannot operate without them.”
(OCTOBER 2004, The Women in Our Lives, GORDON B. HINCKLEY)

Bethlehem (the "House of Bread" paving the way for the "Bread of Life")
Micah 5:2

“For those of us who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, our privilege to magnify our callings is ever present. We are shepherds watching over Israel. The hungry sheep look up, ready to be fed the bread of life. Brethren, our task is to reach out to those who, for whatever reason, are in need of our help. Our challenge is not insurmountable. We are on the Lord’s errand, and therefore we are entitled to the Lord’s help. But we must try. From the play Shenandoah comes the spoken line which inspires: ‘If we don’t try, then we don’t do; and if we don’t do, then why are we here?’

“Ours is the responsibility to so conduct our lives that when the call comes to provide a priesthood blessing or to assist in any way, we are worthy to do so. We have been told that truly we cannot escape the effect of our personal influence. We must be certain that our influence is positive and uplifting.”
(October 2006, True to Our Priesthood Trust, Pres. Monson)

Angel
Luke 2:9-11 (Shepherds); Luke 1:31 (Mary)

“As each sister in the Church does her part to ensure that the purposes of Relief Society are fulfilled, angels will be our associates and we will be participants in amazing miracles.” (Julie B. Beck, “Using RS Meetings to Teach and Inspire” Sept 2010)

“President Joseph F. Smith further clarified: “The priesthood … is … the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and act legitimately; not assuming that authority, nor borrowing it from generations that are dead and gone, but authority that has been given in this day in which we live by ministering angels and spirits from above, direct from the presence of Almighty God.” (Thomas S. Monson, “Willing and Worthy to Serve” Apr 2012)

Stable
Isaiah 1:3  

“The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.” (Ralph Sockman.) The name Jesus Christ and what it represents has been plowed deep into the history of the world, never to be uprooted.”
(Spencer W. Kimball, Why Call Me Lord, And Do Not the Things Which I Say?” April 1975)

Multitude of Angels
Luke 2:13-14  
   
"Angels rejoice as priesthood leaders across the world build Zion in their wards, stakes, and missions. And they will rejoice over the young men and women you help to build Zion wherever they are and in whatever circumstances they may be. Zion is the result of people bound by covenant and love. I invite you to help your youth to join.” (Henry B. Eyring, Oct 2012, “Help them aim High”)

Shepherds (the "missionaries")
Luke 2:15-17   

“I ask for a stronger and more devoted voice, a voice not only against evil and him who is the personification of it, but a voice for good, a voice for the gospel, a voice for God. …unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives of those “who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.”

Haste to the battle, quick to the field;
Truth is our helmet, buckler, and shield.
Stand by our colors; proudly they wave!
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.
(Jeffrey R. Holland, We are all Enlisted, Oct 2011)

Wisemen    
Matt 2: 1-2   

“Sadly, the wisdom of the world can deceive capable people. Joseph Smith said it this way: ‘There are a great many wise men, and women too, in our midst who are too wise to be taught; therefore they must die in their ignorance, and in the resurrection they will find their mistake.’”
(Neil L. Andersen, “Reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom,” Jan 2013)

Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh  
Matt 1:11     
“He gave us the gift of a Savior, His perfect Son, the Lamb without blemish. By personal appearance of the Father Himself and of the Son, and through angels, He has restored the Church of Jesus Christ in the latter days. He has called prophets and apostles to guide us to safety in this life and eternal life in the world to come. Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected that we may live again, that we may be purified and cleansed from sin, prepared for the glory of eternal life. Those are gifts to us that we can offer to others for Him. We do that by remembering Him and trying with all our hearts to do what He would do and love as He loves. There was a song in a film years ago with the line “Have yourself a merry little Christmas.” Well, you can give a great and wonderful Christmas if you remember the gifts God has given you and, as best you can, offer them to others as He would. That is the spirit of Christmas and of true happiness every day.”
(The Gifts of Christmas, Henry B. Eyring)

Star
Helaman 14:5       

“Recall the new star that announced the birth at Bethlehem? It was in its precise orbit long before it so shone. We are likewise placed in human orbits to illuminate. Divine correlation functions not only in the cosmos but on this planet, too.” (OCTOBER 2002, Encircled in the Arms of His Love, NEAL A. MAXWELL)

Jesus   
Isaiah 9:6, 1 Ne. 10:4   

“Now, before we leave today, may I share with you my love for the Savior and for His great atoning sacrifice for us. In three weeks’ time the entire Christian world will be celebrating Easter. I believe that none of us can conceive the full import of what Christ did for us in Gethsemane, but I am grateful every day of my life for His atoning sacrifice in our behalf.

At the last moment, He could have turned back. But He did not. He passed beneath all things that He might save all things. In doing so, He gave us life beyond this mortal existence. He reclaimed us from the Fall of Adam.

To the depths of my very soul, I am grateful to Him. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. He secured our salvation.

As I close, may I share with you touching words written by Emily Harris which describe so well my feelings as Easter comes:

The linen which once held Him is empty.
It lies there,
Fresh and white and clean.
The door stands opened.
The stone is rolled away,
And I can almost hear the angels singing His praises.
Linen cannot hold Him.
Stone cannot hold Him.
The words echo through the empty limestone chamber,
“He is not here.”
The linen which once held Him is now empty.
It lies there,
Fresh and white and clean
And oh, hallelujah, it is empty”
(Thomas S. Monson,”At Parting,” May 2011)

I am so glad for prophets - old and new (and the new ones are old...) - who prophesy and teach about of Jesus Christ! It isn't the prophets' church, it belongs to Jesus and He leads it (D&C 1:38...). I know He came and I know he'll come again! Merry Christmas!