He Is Risen!

What a beautiful thing Easter is, a celebration of Jesus and His glorious Resurrection. Oh what hope this gives us! It is proof that this life is not the end. It is proof that we too shall live again after we die. It is a deep source of comfort that when death separates us and our loved ones, that we shall see them again.

Here are these beautiful words from David O McKay:

"At some time or other every human being faces that which we call death. When i was but a boy, I sensed this deeply in the cry of a mother who sat by the side of the casket that contained her little boy. Several of us boys had been playing with firecrackers on Twenty-eighth street in Ogden. We did not know then that one of our playmates had powder in his pocket...Unfortunately, in a moment of thoughtlessness, this young boy broke what we called a "lighter," and while it still had sparks in it, he put it in his pocket where the powder lay, and an explosion occurred. His clothes were set on fire, which we, his associates, tried to extinguish as best we could; but he was very severely and fatally burned.

"Two or three days later his playmates sat in the funeral services. I chanced to be near enough to the mother to hear President Charles F. Middleton say: "Don't cry, Ann! Don't cry! You'll meet your boy again." And then...a cry came from that mother's soul in these words: "Oh, if I only knew!" That is all. I did not know its significance then. I could just respond to the cry. But since, I have read in that cry the answer to the longing of the human heart.


"No parent can lay aside a child without longing, without wishing, that the child might come again, or that the parent might speak with the child again...No husband can kneel at the side of a departed wife; o wife can kneel at the side of a departed husband; no child can part with a loving parent without being filled with an ardent desire to meet that loved one again somewhere in a better world where the pangs of parting are unknown...

"Living in posterity is not immortality...; living in deeds, living in writings, living in monuments, living in the memory of friends is not immortality; neither is living in the lives of our children and our grandchildren to the latest generation...the immortality that Jesus had in mind when he said: "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (John 11:26.)...

"To sincere believers in Christianity, to all who accept Christ as their Savior, his resurrection is not a symbolism but a reality.

"As Christ lived after death, so shall all men, each taking his place in the next world for which he has best fitted himself...

"He is not here: but is risen." (Luke 24:6.) Because our Redeemer lives, so shall we."

We too testify that He lives. He lived and He died for us. He paid the ultimate price to free us from the bonds of sin and death, so that we could become clean and live with He and Father for eternity.

Let us follow Him each day of our lives, and find comfort in His sacrifice and promise that we all may live together forever someday, never to be parted again...

General Conference

It is Conference weekend! What a wonderful opportunity we have to listen to the inspired words of those called to lead this Church. It is a perfect time for us to receive answers and guidance.

Consider these words of Wendy Watson Nelson as she spoke of a time in her mid-twenties when she was pondering the question of whether or not to marry the man she was engaged to:

"In preparation for April general conference, which was just two weeks away, my Bishop taught me a truth I had never known before. Although I hadn't spoken to him about my engagement or my concerns, when my Bishop offered this truth over the pulpit, he was speaking to me. He didn't use my name-but I knew-he was talking directly to me. He even let others listen in. But clearly, he was speaking to me.

"Here's the truth my Bishop spoke: "If you have a question that you need answered, if you will prayerfully and humbly listen to general conference, you will get it answered every time. Perhaps at the time, perhaps over time, but you WILL get your question answered every time!""

(Click here to read the entire talk from her March 2002 BYU-I Devotional)

It is our prayer that each of you may feel the Spirit of the Lord as you watch and listen to Conference this weekend, and that you may receive the answers, comfort, and guidance you are in need of.

Til We Meet Again...

Today the world lost one of it's very best, 

while Heaven gained an angel...

Our dear friend Selma Smith, passed away this morning due to complications from surgery that resulted in liver failure.

Selma was an amazing lady. She treated us like queens and made us always want to be better.

We will miss so many things about her... Her beautiful smile, her strong testimony of Jesus Christ, her amazing talent when it came to sewing and crocheting, and her unwavering love for her family. Selma made this world a better place and her memory and legacy will live on!

Here is a photo that was taken just 5 short days ago while we were visiting with her in the hospital. If you notice, Debbie is holding the phone up to Selma's ear as Me'Chel was on the other end singing.

Thank you Selma, for blessing our lives! We love you!

At The End Of The Rainbow...

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! On this day, everyone wears their green and there is much talk of luck and leprechauns and pots of gold and treasure at the end of rainbows...

Here is a picture taken just last week. A beautiful full rainbow that filled the sky...

Now we know that rainbows are a symbol of God's promise to Noah (Genesis 9:9-17). What a beautiful reminder they can be to us as well, that our loving Father in Heaven keeps His promises. If He says it, it shall be. He has promised us that ALL things (every trial, every affliction, every difficulty, every painful challenge and loss...) will work together for our good. Consider what President George Q Cannon had to say:

"No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is [against] His character [to do so.] He is an unchangeable being...He will stand by us. We may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed not overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and the purer for them, if we only trust in our God and keep His commandments."

What comfort is found in these inspired words!

Every rainbow comes after the rain. And so it is with us...the rains of 'adversity' will come throughout our lives. But let us look for the 'rainbows', the gentle reminders that our Father in Heaven loves us more than words can say, that He is with us and always will be, and that all of these things will really work together for our good.

Doctrine & Covenants 58: 3-4 "Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. "For after much tribulation cometh the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."

As the oft quoted saying goes, 'He never said it would be easy, He only said it would be worth it.' Our Heavenly Father has promised us blessings and rewards beyond our comprehension if we will but love Him and endure to the end. So on those days that feel so difficult and overwhelming, think of the rainbow and remember His promises...

Our New Friends...

Last night we had the wonderful privilege of doing a program for the Special Needs Young Women. Here are some pictures from the evening...

With their help, we've never sounded better!...

Here we are with our new friends...

Consider these words by President Faust:
"Is it not possible to look beyond the canes, the wheelchairs, the braces, and the crutches into the hearts of the people who have need of these aids? They are human beings and want only to be treated as ordinary people. They may appear differently, move awkwardly, and speak haltingly, but they have the same feelings. They laugh, they cry, they know discouragement and hope. They do not want to be shunned. They want to be loved for what they are inside...
"Those who are close to the handicapped can frequently feel the nobility of the spirits who are confined in differently shaped bodies or who have crippled minds."

What an honor it was to spend the night with these amazing young women. We most certainly did feel of the 'great nobility of their spirits' that President Faust spoke of, and were quite moved by it. Our hearts were deeply touched with the pure joy and love they shared with us.

Happy Birthday Me'Chel!

Happy Happy Birthday Me'Chel!

Wishing you a wonderful day...

Love,
Debbie & Lori

A Thought On Love

Consider these profound words by Elder Neal A Maxwell:

"Love is never wasted, for its value does not rest upon reciprocity."

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!

When We Count Our Blessings...

With it being Thanksgiving, we all tend to reflect a big more deeply on all of the blessings we have, and the endless reasons we have to be thankful.

Robert D Hales spoke the following words: "Gratitude is a state of appreciation, an act of thanksgiving, which causes us to be humble because we recognize an act of kindness, service, or caring from someone else which lifts us and strengthens us."

Indescribable gratitude fills our hearts toward our Heavenly Father for the countless ways He provides for and blesses us. We have so much to be thankful for and are humbled by His goodness to us.

And when we count our blessings, we count our families a million times...

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Ladies Night

Tonight we had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the semi-annual "Ladies Night" at the Deseret Book in the Layton Hills Mall. What a fun thing to be able to meet and spend an evening with so many amazing people! Here are a few pictures (Thanks Selma!):

Singing some of our songs
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We met some new friends from Haiti

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With some of our young friends from the Arise Youth Spectacular

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Signing some cds
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Thank you to everyone who came out and participated for such a fun and wonderful evening!

Our Reasons To Sing...

To our wonderful families. You are why we have reason to sing...

The Bastian Family

The Hales Family

The Musgrave Family

In Remembrance of 9/11...

In remembrance of 9/11, join us in honoring those who have sacrificed so much. Please send this “We Are America” video link to those you think are proud to be Americans! America stands as a symbol to the world as the "home of the free, and the land of the brave" ... "One Nation Under God". May we all do our part to protect and honor this great country.

Click here to visit our website to purchase this song, or go to positivemusicanddownloads.com (It is found on the “Arise” CD.)

Arise Review/Giveaway

Our 'Arise' cd was featured on a blog! Click on the link to check it out and enter for the chance to win a copy of the cd...

http://www.hail2thesnowqueen.blogspot.com/2010/08/heartbound-arise-review-giveaway.html