The Blackberry Bush

This was another article in the Ensign that got me thinking.


Donnell Allan, “The Blessing of the Blackberry Bush,” Ensign, Feb 2009, 53

"One day when our son Jesse was a toddler, I was watching our children play in the yard. Suddenly I realized that he was no longer with the others. One moment he was there, and the next he was gone.

"My heart pounded in panic. I called out for him as I frantically searched the yard. Soon I heard his frightened cries, which I followed. I found Jesse in the yard next door, entangled in the middle of some blackberry vines. He struggled to escape, but each time he moved, thorns from the vines buried themselves deeper into his clothing and skin. He was frightened and in pain. It took me quite some time to remove each thorn and pull Jesse free.

"It hurt me to see my little child suffer. But then I remembered the large pond located in the neighbor’s yard. If the blackberries had not detained Jesse, he might have wandered into the pond and risked drowning.

"I’ve since learned that God sometimes allows us to stumble into thorny places to protect us from more harmful situations. He loves us and does what is best for us, even when it hurts terribly, because sometimes the pain is necessary for our physical safety or spiritual growth. When we turn to Him in our trials, He carefully pulls out the thorns and comforts our hearts.

"Years after that incident with Jesse, I was touched when I came across this passage from Elder George Q. Cannon (1827–1901): “The Saints should always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he requires them to endure present privation and trial, it is that they may escape greater tribulations which would otherwise inevitably overtake them. If He deprives them of any present blessing, it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by-and-by.”1

"My experience with my son—what I now call “the parable of the blackberries”—has brought comfort to me as I have watched my children endure trials and challenges. I am reminded that our trials and suffering have purpose and that the Lord always has our best interest in mind, even when allowing us to suffer temporarily among life’s blackberry thorns."

Sometimes I think about the trials I go through and wonder about the trials I could be asked to endure instead. While I have some hard days, I feel so fortunate to have trials that I know I can handle. (I may not feel like that at the time, but it IS true!)

The third paragraph of this article also makes me think of our Heavenly Father. He can only help us as we call to Him. It pains Him to see us struggling, but He can't do anything until we make the choice to ask Him for help. As soon as we do, He's there to help us and comfort us.

New Resource

I've just discovered a great new website. It's called Mormons Made Simple.com. It has a few simple videos that explain such things as what to expect when coming to an LDS church on Sunday, or what is The Book of Mormon. They're already planning on more videos, as well. It seems to be a great resource, so go check it out!

Book of Mormon in 3 Months

I've decided to read The Book of Mormon in 3 months again, and I would love for you to join me! Last summer I did this same thing, and I learned SO much!!

I'll be starting March 1st, so you still have time to decide. But please let me know if you'd like to join me! I can email you a copy of the chart I've made up that tells you how much to read each day.

I know that reading The Book of Mormon makes life easier! Every day I DON'T read is a chaotic day!! I love reading it in all different ways - fast, slow, by topic. Each way teaches me something different, and I love it!

My email: blhvamos (at) gmail (dot) com

Running to Him

Every once in a while, I come across a really great article in the Ensign that I can't help but share. This one is from this month's Ensign.

"Years ago my son Derek competed in a much-anticipated track meet. For three years of his young life, he had prepared for and hoped to win the two-mile race. Now as we watched with the crowd gathered near the finish line, it seemed the race would last forever. When Derek crossed the line first, the crowd burst into cheers. He was surrounded by coaches, teammates, and friends offering congratulations. Derek seemed relieved and thrilled to have finally accomplished his goal.

"I noticed, however, that in the tangle of the crowd, he was frantically scanning the field as though he wanted to be somewhere else. I watched, with tears in my eyes, as Derek bolted across the field, arms outstretched, into the open arms of his father - the place he wanted to be. I recorded that moment in my mind - a moment when I saw just how much our son loves and needs his dad.

"Derek's preparation for this event had not been easy. There were times of discouragement, disappointment, and sometimes despair. But Derek had the constant support of his greatest fan - his father! In rain, wind, sleet, or snow my husband was at every race offering Derek encouragement.

"At those races my husband stood apart from the other spectators at what I considered an odd place. He wasn't at the finish line or even along the final stretch, but at a distant corner on the far side of the field. Once I asked him why he stood there. I will never forget his answer. He said, 'I stand at the place my son needs me the most. He needs to know I'm there at the most challenging moment - when his legs burn and he feels like he cannot go on. He needs to hear at that far corner a voice telling him to keep moving because he has worked hard and deserves to do his very best. There will be cheers at the beginning and loving support at the end, but I will be at the corner where I know he feels like giving up.'

"As I watched Derek leave his team at the finish line and run a great distance into his father's arms, I realized that spiritual whispers of encouragement from my Father in Heaven have not come at moments in my life when I felt most sure of myself. Instead, those reminders of His love have come when I thought I could go no farther, when I felt as if my spiritual legs would collapse in exhaustion. I have felt His love and I have known then, as I know now, that I am His child. As I remember my husband's arms encircling our son, I imagine what it will be like to cross the finish line of this life and run into the waiting arms of our Father in Heaven. I am grateful for His support and that of our Savior, Jesus Christ, which has helped ease every difficult turn in my life."

Speaking by the Power of the Holy Ghost

Today, I came across 2 Nephi 33:1. The last half reads, "for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men."

In the margins, I have written, "always speak with the Holy Ghost, especially to kids." This was, once again, an eye opener to me. There's been a lot of stress in my life lately, and when I'm stressed I tend to not be so nice. (Read: I tend to yell more.) This scripture made me realize that all the yelling in the world isn't going to do anything!

When I have the Spirit with me, He will carry my message "unto the hearts of the children." If I speak with the Spirit, they'll understand with the Spirit.

Who Will Believe?

I found a cool scripture chain that I thought I would share.

Isaish 53:1 is Isaiah writing and wondering who will believe his writings.

There are three ways to come by belief. You can find one of them in Romans 10:16-17. The other two are found in John 12:37, 38, 40. Each of those scriptures quotes Isaiah and also gives the answer to who will believe.

How Great Thou Art Scriptures & Background Story

I'm sharing a tidbit from a series I am posting on my main blog. I love the hymns and thought you all might enjoy this little scripture study session as well.

I deemed it appropriate to begin with something Swedish. {I am 1/2 Swedish and very much attached to my Swedish heritage.} This is why I chose the hymn How Great Thou Art for my first selection. Oftentimes I will include music with the song I choose, but I can't do that this time due to copyright restrictions on this song. Hopefully you have a hymn book yourself, or a good memory.

Scriptures for this song:
Psalms 8:3-9 David here recounts numerous wonders of the Lord and His amazing mercy towards each on of us.
Psalms 9:1-2 Here David speaks of his own desires to praise and rejoice in the Lord. How Great Thou Art song lyrics seem to be derived from David’s message.
Mosiah 4:5-13 In King Benjamin’s speech, he reminds us all of our own unworthiness without the Lord and of God’s great goodness. Each of us should remember to rejoice and be filled with the love of God.


Various facts:
English text by Stuart K. Hine, 1899
Original Swedish text by Reverend Carl Boberg “O Store Gud” or “O Mighty God”
Tune Swedish folk medley


The story behind the song:
This hymn originated in Sweden. The author apparently wrote the song while walking home in during a thunderstorm after church services. It was translated into a few different languages when English missionaries, Reverend and Mrs. Stuart K. Hine, heard the hymn in Russia. They wrote up an English version of the song using 3 verses. After WWII, eastern European refugees were flooding into England looking to find a new home. It was at this time that the 4th verse was written, receiving inspiration for the words after listening to the wondering questions about home from these people who were without one.


I am doing a little research online to find these things out. I also have a book entitled "Our Latter-day Hymns The Stories and the Messages" by Karen Lynn Davidson from which I am finding information on these songs. If you want more info, the aforementioned book and the internet search engines can get you much more than the little bit I shared.

A Few Simple Things

I was blessed this past week in testimony meeting. Despite feeling frazzled, frustrated and pessimistic, I was able to feel the Spirit of the Lord. It started with a simple story shared in a testimony and then grew from there until I was pleasantly surprised to find the familiar feeling that comes when touched by the Spirit.

One mother shared a story of how her little daughter lost her favorite purple dress. She was so distressed about it. Together they knelt in prayer. Then they took more action in searching. They found the dress and the little one immediately thought to take time to offer a heartfelt thank you to her Father in Heaven.

A lady who had served a mission with her husband bore testimony that made me grateful for the blessing of the gospel in my life. She mentioned learning, recently, from their mission area that had decided to turn their backs on the teachings of Christ.

The Young Men's President referred to several of the testimonies that had been born. He somehow linked them together for our ward. Just like the girl who was searching for her purple dress, each of us can come to the Lord with anything going on in our lives. He knows how to help us with any problem.

Another mother bore a "reluctant", yet poignant, testimony. Through her tears a message came, even though I didn't catch a lot of what she said.

All these simple testimonies woven together increased my own faith, provided enlightenment to my heart and mind. Isn't it wonderful how you can be blessed even when you probably don't deserve it? Sometimes it is through small, simple things that our hearts get touched. I guess that is the way the gospel works. :)

Tithing... letting go.

I have a testimony of Tithing. And yes this is new to me. I have been a member all my life and have paid my tithing whenever we get money. But this last month has been a little different. My husband got a pay cut and so things have been a little tighter then we all would like. Just last week we were getting groceries and other things we needed and I realized in my head that we hadn't paid our tithing or at least hadn't put it aside to pay. And my dear husband told me no we will be ok, we paid it.I took it out. I'll I could see was the numbers adding them and subtracting them in my head. It just didn't work in my head. I even got mad at him. But that night I just finally got down on my knees and said I can't seem to make it all work but Lord I know you can. And I know this doesn't happen all the time but the next day I went to the mail and there there was two checks for us that we never knew where coming. I learned that sometimes we can't see the bigger picture or what is going to happen next but our loving Heavenly Father can. I am greatful to have my husband a worthy presthood holder in our home he is such a great excample to me.

Parenting Advice from the Scriptures

In Jarom 1:7-12, I found some great parenting advice. In verse 7 we see that their "leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord." Being mighty in the faith of the Lord must surely be a mark of a great leader. The same verse tells us that these leaders "taught the people the ways of the Lord." How will our children know of Christ and be expected to act like Him if we haven't taught them.

If we are faithful and good teachers as were those leaders, our families can withstand the trials that come from the adversary. The Nephites were able to withstand the Lamanites by using this method. The leaders prepared their people by teaching them about all kinds of things and because they were "prepared to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us."

There is a bit of a catch, though. It isn't enough to teach them once or twice. We must "labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence." Also, those leaders "did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance." There is nothing more powerful than the word of the Lord to make a difference in someone's life.

By doing all this great work, the leaders were able to preserve their people. When I try to apply these scriptures to my own life, I am inclined to believe that I must not be weary in teaching and guiding my children continually. I can also believe that if I do my part, my children will be able to have the know-how to deal with trials and temptations that come their way. This seems worth the reward. :)

Read all the verses in full to see if you have more insights to share on this section!