Your LDS Radio Blog | YLDSR.COM

How do we know when as a family we are too busy? How can we tell when our children are in too many activities? I think each family faces these questions at one time or another. When I think of answering them I think of many other questions to ask: Are my children leaving the home in the morning without a prayer? Are they going to bed without a family prayer? Are we eating dinner in the car five nights a week? I have five children and have a carpool route for each one of them. Our children have three different departure times in the morning, between 5:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Do I wake them all up at 5:30 a.m. to say a family prayer? We are still trying to figure that out.

Some of our children are in activities they love. But when these activities, combined with many children, contribute to us neglecting our family prayer and scripture reading, then we may be too busy. Family time all too often contains memories of someone missing from an activity because another activity was too important. I have mentioned before that Sundays are my favorite days. It’s a time to rest and just talk with my family. Each Sunday our family sits for a period of about 20 minutes before bedtime to say our family prayers, read the scriptures and write in our journals. I keep the journals underneath our family room table and they are easy to pull out and use. I ask my children to write about something spiritual they can think of that happened during the week. The journals, I think, will be cherished treasures.

I think at this time in life (when kids would rather text for hours, go on facebook or be at a friends house), it is so important that we as families have family meetings to set the standard for each day – including scripture study and family prayer time. I think it is important to prepare our children to be stronger then they are now, and to determine what is important to the family as a whole. May we set a time aside each day to show our children what really matters in life, and set an example of being an unconquerable spirit against those activities that take us away from spiritual family moments. As stated in The Family Proclamation, “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”

A choir of LDS youth prepares for a fireside in the Ogden Tabernacle. They'll present, to a full house, the music for a new program to be performed this July, by a cast of thousands.

by Sam Payne

Some LDS parents are old enough to remember LDS dance festivals, music festivals, and even speech festivals: massive events that involved hundreds of youth in months of rehearsals and gala performances. For a whole generation, such festivals were a hallmark of an LDS youth’s experience. It’s been a long time since the church has sponsored and promoted anything like that on a large scale (with some exceptions; I remember as a youth being involved in a Stake dance festival in which I danced the polka around the high school gym with Becky Williams. I still see her folks on occasion, and no matter what station I achieve in this life, they’ll always remember me as Becky’s dance partner. Believe me, there are much worse ways to go).

But the truth is, there’s been a sort of resurgence of interest lately (perhaps beginning with the big youth celebrations in 2005 of the bicentennial of the Prophet Joseph’s birth) in involving youth in memorable (and massive) cultural events. For example, in and around Ogden, Utah, a fever is taking hold, as dozens of stakes (no kidding: dozens of stakes) prepare for a spectacular July performance in Weber State University’s Wildcat stadium. The program will feature dance, theater, and music on a massive scale, with an audience of 18,000 (and a cast of nearly that many).

Above, find a cell-phone photo of a choir assembled to present some of the program’s music to the youth who will be learning and performing it. As some of their parents (and more of their grandparents) could tell them, it’s going to be one terrific ride!

Have you ever felt a prompting to do something you had never thought of doing before? Something that would impact your whole family? One such prompting came to a woman regarding her own family. Many years ago, television stations across the country would highlight a child in need of adoption each Wednesday. Over the years I have had the pleasure of knowing a few people who exude the extraordinary trait of pure charity. One such person named Marlene saw one of these children on television and felt prompted to talk with her family about the idea of adopting a child. The whole family was supportive. She called inquiring about the child she saw and was told to find another child because of complications. Marlene was confused. After all, she did feel a prompting to present this idea to her family. During the phone conversation she was instructed if she was still interested to go down to the adoption center and to filter through a box of hundreds of papers showing children waiting for adoption. After searching for days, she finally came across the child she wanted to adopt.

Her family went through the paperwork to begin adoption. They did not hear back from anyone for weeks. When she finally called to get an update, no one had processed her papers. She was worried the child her family had been praying for would no longer be available. She sent in the paperwork again. Unexpectedly, the boy they wanted to adopt showed up on t.v., as a Wednesday’s child. She immediately called to find out why they were not notified. Again, the paperwork still had not been processed. After many family prayers and fasting the doors opened for them to meet the child and spend a day with him. They knew he was the right one and months later the adoption went through.

When asked why she felt so committed to finding a child to adopt she replied, “It was not an easy process, but I felt a prompting and followed through.” After raising him to adulthood, the family felt committed to becoming foster parents. They have opened their home to many teenagers and have blessed their lives with the gospel. Even to this day, the foster children she once watched over still visit and love her. The average foster child will live in anywhere from six to nine different homes until the age 18.

What an amazing family Marlene and her husband have developed! In Moroni 7:47 it reads, “but charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” Marlene and her family have been able to demonstrate the unconquerable spirit through the gift of charity and change the lives of a select group of special children they felt they could truly love.

I lost contact with Luis Calleja nearly twenty years ago. But a few weeks back, he tracked me down on the Internet, and it brought on a flood of memories. Luis was a young man when I first met him – an architecture student. I was a missionary in Argentina, and Luis’ Latter-day Saint girlfriend, Ruth, had laid down the law: Luis could join the Church, or say good-bye to any chance of marrying her. We were happy to teach Luis, and he was a willing investigator. He cheerfully accepted one challenge after another, committing to baptism, the word of wisdom, the law of chastity, tithing, and on and on – with one exception. Luis refused, for one reason or another, to pray. Though we made the invitation often, he wouldn’t pray with us, and as far as we knew, he didn’t pray alone. As such (and as cheerful as Luis was about adopting the lifestyle of a Latter-day Saint), my companion and I were troubled about Luis’ progress. It seemed clear to us that he was more interested in Ruth than in the gospel. Discussions with Luis were full of good cheer and cooperation – even full of determination and commitment – but devoid, it seemed, of the Spirit.

We prayed for Luis, fasted for him, and continued teaching. But the further we went, the more frustration we felt. It seemed possible to us that Luis might very willingly be baptized, without ever having gained any sort of testimony at all. We agonized over it, and as we approached the last discussion, we made a decision: right or wrong, we were going to stop teaching Luis. We met him for the discussion ready for a difficult conversation. Without much hope, we asked Luis if he’d offer an opening prayer. Incredibly, Luis shrugged his shoulders, bowed his head, and earnestly began to pray. It would be difficult to describe what happened next. It sounds hyperbolic, but never before had I experienced or witnessed such an immediate and complete opening of the windows of heaven. The simplest way to characterize those moments, perhaps, is to say that before that prayer, Luis was a willing participant in a belief system that he didn’t subscribe to. After that prayer, Luis had a testimony. There was no doubt of that left in any of us.

Brother Luis Calleja went on to marry Ruth, and has lived for decades now in faithful church service. It was a delight to get in contact with him again. He congratulated me on my calling to our Bishopric. He was just finishing a term of service in a bishopric himself. It was (if I understood his florid Spanish correctly) his sixth.

There are, of course, many elements that come to bear in the growth of a testimony. Obedience, faith, humility, service, and study all play a part in building a vibrant relationship with the Lord. But for Luis, one thing made the difference that has changed his life: simple, fervent prayer.

President Monson speaks pointedly of the power of prayer. In October, 2006, he said the following in General Conference: “How, you may ask, can we most effectively gain and maintain the foundation needed to survive spiritually in the world in which we live? First, fortify your foundation through prayer.” In the same talk, President Monson (quoting William Cowper, the 18th century English poet) said: “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.”

Let us, surely, be diligent in all the attitudes and behaviors that building a testimony requires. But let us not forget prayer. Prayer, perhaps better than anything else, is the water that sends the roots of testimony deep into a soul. It can, as we sing so often, “change the night to day.”

As Christmas is only a few days away, may we find time to reflect with our family on the birth of our Savior and His mission. I know how busy it can be with finding just that right gift, or trying to find what would be best for stocking stuffers and hoping you haven’t forgot about a neighbor or friend. Amidst this season, may we take some time, perhaps at night, and read of His birth and share the message of His life.

As I reflect on his long awaited and tender birth I cannot help but think about His example and mission: to heal those that suffer and help us to return to Heavenly Father. I am reminded how even little children can be an example in their own family lives. A dear young primary girl was going through a difficult time. Her parents had divorced and she was adjusting to a new step mother who rarely attended church. Her own mother was going through a difficult time as well. She was unable to find a secure job and was finding single life again to be hard. Although the divorce was mutual, this sweet young girl found it hard to handle.

At church she was taught to say her personal prayers and read her scriptures, and encouraged to do a family home evening weekly. She was challenged to be in charge of one family home evening a month and would bring home an outline for the night. But these encouragements were hard to fulfill. She was told she could not have a family home evening with her family. She had to be to bed at a certain tim,e and if she was in the middle of a prayer she was told to stop and get in bed. She was confused as to how to handle these situations.

One Sunday just before Christmas, she was found in the halls of the church crying. Her family was simply having a bad day and she was having a hard time dealing with it. But the lesson in primary that day had been on the birth and example of the Savior. In that lesson, it was taught that each of the primary children were special, and had a special mission just like the Savior. Although each child will have a different mission, it was shared that they could make a difference in the lives of their own family just like the Savior made a difference in the lives of all people. This little girl took this Christmas message to heart. She asked her primary teacher how she could have family home evenings without getting into trouble and how she could say a prayer without being asked to stop. After coming up with a plan the young girl approached her father and asked if she could have a family home evening once a month with her little sister in her bedroom and she would say her nighttime prayers in her bed. Her father agreed and faithfully each month this little girl held an official family home evening with her little sister. She worked hard on saying her prayers at night and tried to stay close to the Lord.

Weeks went by and this young girl seemed more at peace. When asked how she was doing she said she remembered from the Christmas lesson that she had a purpose in her family and maybe it was to set the example for her little sister. Of course, I believe this sweet young girl was also being an example of the gospel for her family. What an incredible example of an unconquerable spirit against difficult situations. What a strength of character and maturity beyond her years this little girl demonstrated. As stated in 2 Nephi 21:6, “a little child shall lead them.” When the Savior came to the earth he came as a tender babe not as a king with his own kingdom. But, as a child. This season let our hearts turn to His birth and his mission and reflect on all the wonderful influences we have been blessed with in our lives.

Wendy M. Johnson

Earl and Nena Madsen, about two months before Earl's passing

Behind the scenes of the LDS music industry, you’ll find a bevy of dedicated folks. You don’t see their faces on CD covers or hear their voices on albums  and radio broadcasts, but without them, there’d be no music at all. Ask around in the industry about some of the names who’ve helped grease the wheels for LDS artists over the years, and one name will come up as often as any other (and more often than most): Earl Madsen. It’s hard to find an LDS artist that Earl didn’t take out to lunch at one time or another and offer some well-placed advice. Artists will be quick to tell you their favorite place to hang out with Earl. With me, it was always the Sweet Tomatoes salad buffet in Sandy, Utah. Albums were planned and careers plotted across the table between us, and anyone who ever spoke with Earl knew of his dedication to building the kingdom of the Lord through inspiring music.

Earl was a big part of the advisory team that helped put together the online station that became YourLDSradio. We couldn’t have done it without him, perhaps, such was his influence on what we do around here.

Earl passed away one week ago today, and has left a hole in the hearts of all who knew him. It’s been a week of memories — so many of them musical. Earl was in poor health for awhile. Maybe, even, he had an inkling of what was to come. As such, it might not have surprised many to find, tucked in his journal, a long list of LDS artists and songs that he wanted involved somehow in his funeral, when it came. It came this week, and the pews in the chapel were filled with LDS music-makers, sharers of the same love for great music that characterized Earl. His legacy was on display at the service, through songs and memories of of his many friends.

Earl Madsen in his element

As a YourLDSradio listener, you’re part of that legacy, too. We hope you’re enjoying the music, and we hope that Earl somehow has a glimpse, even now, of listeners all over the world, being uplifted by the music made by and for Latter-day Saints.

Earl spent the last months of his life building education outreach programs for young artists hoping to find opportunities to share their music. It was the sort of thing he loved: helping other people shine. A genuine builder. Earl, you fought the good fight. We are all thankful. Thanks for the memories.

As Latter-day Saints, this season is a reminder of the love and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a time to reflect on the blessings we have received in our lives. It is a time to ponder on the small or mighty miracles we can attribute to our relationship with the Lord. It is also a time of worldly pressures. December gets filled with finding enough time to make or buy treats for our friends, neighbors, co-workers, school friends, and so on. Often it can be a month filled with errands, and attending parties or gatherings. Finally, Christmas comes, and after all the presents are unwrapped we are able to slow down and reflect once again on the true meaning of Christmas. So how do we slow down during this season and help our family understand that when Christmas comes, it’s not just about the presents?

We can all admit that giving and receiving gifts is a lot of fun. And while there’s nothing wrong with it, we can too easily make that the focus. There are many experiences we can share with our children that could help them understand how important keeping the right focus is. Doing a special Family Home Evening during the month of December can help prepare the family for tithing settlement, for example. A child or spouse who hears a lesson and testimony on tithing can only grow and learn from such a lesson. Helping our children fill out the tithing slip as the activity and placing the money in the envelope until tithing settlement can help them understand the process of preparing for tithing settlement.

I was surprised as a new member long ago, when my husband reminded my four-year-old to pay tithing on his small allowance. We went to the bishop, and my son paid $3.00 in tithing, making him a full tithe-payer. For children, tithing teaches that every dollar earned is a blessing from the Lord. A child’s awareness of this important principle can begin at a young age. Each year as a family, we attend tithing settlement and each child fills out their own tithing paper if they owe some at the time. Afterwards we have a tithing settlement treat. It is a sort of celebration, confirming we have faithfully kept a commandment from the Lord and have taken part in the great mission in building up the Lord’s kingdom on the earth.

A simple story shared in primary a few years ago touched my heart. A little boy was asked to give a talk. He shared a story about how he was Christmas shopping and had money to spend on his family. At the store he told his mom he did not pay his tithing yet and that he and his mom had to stop shopping a moment and figure out what he owed.

This holiday season, may we all take a little time out of our busy schedule and teach our children the principles of tithing and demonstrate an unconquerable spirit against the worldly pressures of the season. As stated in Genesis 28:22, Jacob covenants to pay tithing to the Lords by stating, “of all that thou shalt give me, I shall surely give the tenth onto thee.” May we show gratitude for our blessings – remembering where they came from.

Wendy M. Johnson

Joshua, our guitarist, ready for take-off

The world of LDS music features, of course, the work of a lot of LDS artists you love. You know their names, and many of them are dear to your heart. But behind the scenes, you’ll find hundreds of other people working to bring the music to vibrant life – technicians, musicians, writers, producers, and more, not to mention warehouse owners and operators, store employees, and everyone else working hard to get music into your hands. Some of those people are members of the Church, and some aren’t. But they’re all dedicated to creating music that will support the aims of your favorite artists: to lift your spirit, to inspire and comfort you.

Drummer Steve Flaig, enjoying a burrito during load-in

Just a few days ago, I had an opportunity to work with some of my favorite musicians on a big outdoor Christmas show in Southern Utah. The experience put me in mind of the brotherhood we share as musicians and as children of God, and I thought of how surprising it might be for some of our listeners that much or their favorite music is so ecumenical in its creation.

As I worked with the musicians that were part of the aforementioned Christmas show, it struck me for a moment how different we all were in terms of religious affiliation. A handful of us were Latter-Day-Saints, but not more than a handful.

Pianist and accordianist Stephen Keen, rehearsing a bit before the show

Over the course of our work together, we even had a conversation or two about our differences. Even so, when it came time to address the concert, we were all uncommonly unified in presenting Christmas music to our audience in a way that would move them – nudge them deeper into the spirit of giving and love that characterizes the season. To a man, each member of the band and crew felt that responsibility keenly, and delivered a memorable show to a grateful audience. I’m thankful to have been part of such a team. It’s the same sort of team whose work goes into nearly every tune you hear on this station, or every LDS album you play in your home.

May your season be a musical one, and your heart be full of love for all men (and, of course, women and children too)!

The Christmas season is upon us. To me it is a time of playing beautiful and festive Christmas music. It is a time of fulfilling family traditions — making candy wreaths, gingerbread cookies and houses, and candied almonds. We pass out treats to our friends and neighbors and we have been doing the same Family Home Evenings for years in the month of December. It is a wonderful, family time.
It is also a time to reflect on blessings we have received and to remember those who may be in need. Many shelters depend on Christmas as a time of restocking for the whole year, to be able to pass out jackets, clothing, and toys for children. Food banks are filled and dinners can be donated for months to come. Helping individual families also occurs. As Church members we could always go to the Bishop to ask whom we could help or it may be obvious to see.
Several years ago, there was a family in which the father had been released from his job before Thanksgiving. It was an unexpected layoff. With the holidays looming over the family, the layoff affected the father even more. Each day the father worked hard at sending out resumes and taking odd jobs to make some money. He was paid to chop wood, and to use a jackhammer to remove an old entryway. These were experiences he had never done before. He did work that to many may seem menial. But the father refused to let pride enter his heart, as he would do whatever it would take to feed his family. But, with each passing day and no job offers, the holidays started to be a reminder of what he could not give his family for the first time in their lives. The family was used to a comfortable life style, and hadn’t worried about their means before. His heart poured out to the Lord to help him find a job. He even opened his heart for a new career path if it was required. But, no opening occurred. With only two weeks before Christmas and his heart heavy, an envelope was delivered to his door. It contained a check in a large amount, enough to make mortgage payments and to buy Christmas presents for his family. He wept with his wife and they gave thanks to the Lord for the person or persons who had thought about their family.
Pride did not enter their hearts, but rather gratitude. What an example of an unconquerable spirit! This father demonstrated the humility needed to receive this Christmas blessing. He, having served many families himself in the past, knew he needed to accept this generous blessing with an open heart and in return his family and wife could accept it because of his example.
In 1 Peter 5:5 it states “be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. There are so many lives we can bless the holiday season. Some may be our next door neighbors and extended family member. May we this season, humble our hearts to receive the blessings our families stand in need of or service those families in need.
Wendy M. Johnson