Our Thoughts

I’m starting my second round of abstaining from red meat

Kim Siever — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:03:04 +0000

Last year was my first year abstaining from red meat for the entire summer. With the temperature reaching 29° C today and forecasted to remain above 20° for the foreseeable future, I think it’s time I start my second round.

The way I see it, a strict interpretation of D&C 89:12–13 is like a Mormon version of Lent. I actually don’t mind it; although it can be a hassle for others who like to cook roasts or use ground meat in meals.

One of the benefits is I don’t have a greasy aftertaste in my mouth after the ward Pioneer Picnic.

Mother’s Day talk on Mary & Martha

Kim Siever — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:46:54 +0000

I was asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting yesterday, and I was given free reign to talk about mothers or women. I chose to speak about the story of Mary and Martha, but I wanted to give it an approach different from what we normally hear.

Here is my talk.

Singing in Sacrament Meeting

Kim Siever — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:41:52 +0000

A sister in our ward sang in our Sacrament meeting with her daughter and granddaughters. One of her granddaughters is hearing impaired, and her singing involved signing the song. This was the second time I have seen her sign with a group of singers and both times I have found it inspiring. The way she moves her hands and arms is so rhythmical and fluid, it adds another dimension to the song. You can actually see what the song sounds like.

Did Jesus feed 5000?

Kim Siever — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:43:08 +0000

People claim Jesus fed 5,000 people (which is really 5,000 men and their wives and children, but that’s another post). Can we honestly claim that he was the one doing the feeding if the food used wasn’t his?

LDS Church buys property from Community of Christ

Kim Siever — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:05:30 +0000

“The Church recently acquired operating farmland and several other non-farmland properties located in Missouri and Ohio from the Community of Christ,” LDS Church spokesperson Scott Trotter said. “Non-farm sites include the Haun’s Mill and the Far West Burying Ground in Missouri as well as the Joseph Smith Sr. home in Kirtland, Ohio.”

via Deseret News.

3 words about the sisters of the church

Kim Siever — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:41:46 +0000

“These three simple words have come to express the vision of prophets for sisters in the Church.” —Julie B. Beck

Faith
Family
Relief

Should Mormons be vegetarians?

Kim Siever — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:32:35 +0000

From a logical perspective, Foster explained that killing animals causes them harm, and it is morally wrong to cause something harm unless the benefits outweigh the harm caused. But he feels that raising animals for food causes more harm than benefits, and therefore killing and eating animals is morally wrong.

via Hard News Cafe » Blog Archive » Should Mormons be vegetarians? Yes, says guest speaker.

3 essential signals

Kim Siever — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:40:04 +0000

According to Thomas S. Monson, the three essential signals of the Lord’s lighthouse are:

Believe
Obey
Endure

3 ways to help us learn from General Conference

Kim Siever — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:00:53 +0000

Three basic concepts that may help us to better receive, remember, and apply the words spoken by the Lord’s servants, according to Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

Members of the Church are entitled to personal revelation as they listen to and study the inspired words spoken at general conference.
Don’t discount a message merely because it sounds familiar.
The words spoken at general conference should be a compass that points the way for us during the coming months.

10 ways to strengthen your testimony

Kim Siever — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:08:22 +0000

10 observations and suggestions to strengthening our testimonies, according to Cecil O. Samuelson, Jr:

Everyone has worth because we are all children of God.
Change of heart occurs gradually and in response to specific questions, experiences, and concerns as well as by our study and prayer.
Purpose of life is to be tested and stretched.
Trust the things we believe in or know to sustain us in times of uncertainty.
Gaining a testimony is a progression along the continuum of hoping, believing, and knowing.
Teaching someone else what we know strengthens our own testimony.
Do the little but necessary things daily and regularly
We should not have higher standards for others than we do for ourselves.
Remember being too hard on yourself when you make a mistake can be negative
We must be clear that the Atonement of Christ is fully and continuously operative for each of us.