A day of feasting!

Spiritually, that is! Larry and I gave talks in Sacrament Meeting today, and we actually feel pretty good about it. Except for the fact that our kids had an absolute FIELD DAY!! So, what do you do when, as you begin your talk, your two-year-old suddenly decides to come join you at the pulpit? Only to run through the choir seats when her embarrassed daddy comes up to retrieve her. Topped only by her brothers following daddy up to the stand?! YIKES!! And I was nervously beginning my talk so that I didn't even notice until out of the corner of my eye, I saw four people walking conga-style down the stairs of the stand. Yep, you guessed it! The amazing Johnson family strikes again. Needless to say, Darla jumped in to help corral our little ones, leaving Scott to take care of her three kids (quite well, I might add). Whew, I am getting tired just thinking about all the commotion. I think our pew was definitely the most lively today!

We spoke on a talk given by Elder Bednar in October General Conference entitled, "And Nothing Shall Offend Them." You can find it at this address: http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-646-32,00.html

Talk about a powerhouse talk. If you haven't read it in a while, I urge you to do so. Elder Bednar invites us to choose not to be offended if someone hurts our feelings. Boy, I need this everyday. When we are offended, usually the only one hurting is ourselves. We need to be like Pahoran when he responded to Moroni's scathing letter (see Alma 60-61), "In your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart." Elder Bednar also reminds us of how Brigham Young responded to Joseph Smith's humiliating censure -- humbly asking what he could do to improve--NOT retaliating or getting defensive and offended. What amazing examples!

I am not sleeping very much at night, but I am doing a lot better. But, I am also looking forward to hitting the sack. See ya!