Tradition.

I gave a talk on sunday.

you know how I get nervous?

and never look up

and talk super fast

yup, i did that

oh well, glad its overrrrrrr

 so anyway, this post is for the few people

 who asked to read my talk that I just love so dearly!

Tradition. Every time I hear some that word I think of my dad imitating Tevye from The Fiddler on the Roof.  When I am home I can still catch him with his hands in the air, doing the dance/skip/walk thing Tevye does as he says over and over Tradition.
            How do we create lasting memories with our families? Through recreating and learning together, with tradition as the “glue” that keeps us connected. Rituals, traditions, and patterns provide something that is repeated and has significance to the family. Melinda Hill states, “A strong family has a commitment to one another and keeps increasing in strength because of the time they spend together.            
            Traditions promote a feeling of safety and security within the family by providing a predictable and familiar experience. Family members have something to look forward to which gives them a sense of assurance in a hectic and ever-changing world. The last three years for me, have been all about change, making decisions, always moving and being busy. My family hasn’t been able to do most of our traditions together because of change and the different places we all are in life. Without those traditions I felt like the ground beneath my feet was gone. We haven’t have family vacation traditions to keep us connected, Christmas traditions to remind of us Christ, even Halloween traditions that brought joy to us and the friends we associated with. It has been hard to stay close as a family while we have been scattered across the world. But these last few years has made us realize how important our traditions are to us individually and as a family. Donald L. Hallstrom said, “Uplifting traditions play a significant role in leading us towards the things of the Spirit. Those that promote love for deity and unity in families and among people are especially important.”

            For a while my family had a tradition to watch classics together as a family. A of us kids had never seen or heard of them except for when our parents were trying to teach us a lesson and referred to some old movie. Of course, we watched Fiddler on the Roof. If you pay attention there are so many things you can take from that movie. In the scene about tradition, Tevye talks about how they have traditions for everything: sleep, work, eat, clothes…”For instance, we always keep our heads covered, and always wear a little prayer shawl. This shows our devotion to God. You may ask, how did this tradition get started? I’ll tell you. I don’t know. But it’s a tradition. And because of our traditions every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.” He goes on about daily prayers and the Holy book and how every one has their part to maintain the balance.

            So, what makes us different is who we are and knowing that we are children of God. Our traditions help us remember this. God gave the Israelites things to do that helped them remember who they are and to remember the commandments and blessings that come from them. Today, we have the general authority of the church who constantly tell us of the small and simple things that we should do. Family’s  have routines that they don’t realize are important and repeated because they are the “little things” that we do everyday. Some of these routines are like meals together, dinnertime discussions, as well as prayers and scriptures together. “If unity, love, and traditions are not developed in a family, the family may not stay together.” Traditions help the members of the family respect and love one another more.

            First thing that comes to mind when you think of spiritual traditions are probably prayer, scripture and FHE. Wearing a CTR ring for us is similar to other religions who wear crosses, it’s a symbol of Christ and a constant reminder to those wearing them to be smart in what we do and why we do it. Why do we do these things?

            Elder Bednar gave a devotional in 1998 called, “Teach them to Understand.” He says, “It concerns me as I see young people in our Church who know all the correct things they should do and do not have a clue as to why. They have a check-list mentality. "Say my prayers morning and night. Read the scriptures." Why do they do these things? "Because I am supposed to. Because the prophet said. Because my mom and dad will jump my case if I don't." May I suggest that each of these activities is related to the doctrine of revelation. We pray every morning in a meaningful way to invite the companionship of the Holy Ghost. At the end of the day we report and give an account of our stewardship in our evening prayer. We express gratitude for the companionship of the Spirit and the direction we received. We also study the scriptures daily to feast upon the words of Christ, to again invite the Spirit, and to receive instruction and direction. These things are related to the doctrine of receiving revelation. But do we do these things without an understanding of what they are linked to doctrinally? Do we understand why? If we do not understand the why, then the power available to us through the doctrine of Christ will not be evident in our lives.” He also addresses other Whys such as family time and the law of chastity. It is important for us to know and teach the WHYs.

            Almost Christian is a book by Kenda Creasy Dean that talks about the youth in the world that say they are Christian but don’t really understand different parts of religion or who they are. There is a chapter on Mormons and how most of our youth have a good hold on these things, she gave our youth compliments for the little things like seminary and they way we live. One of our general authority, I can’t remember who, referred to this in a church news article and said how great to be recognized but that we still need the wake up call that her book gives the world. All it takes is for one generation of this church not to do the little things and we lose it.    We must not be afraid to let our light shine.

            My younger brother, Trent, is the greatest light and example to everyone who knows him, especially my family. We used to tease him growing up about how perfect he was like it was a bad thing. But really, we all wish we were as amazing as he is. He is a huge connector and peacemaker in my family. Without fail, he reads his scriptures and says his prayers every day. When I was in High School I remember one morning driving to early morning seminary with him when he told me how the night before he was so tired from staying up late and didn’t want to read but told himself, fine, just one verse. He blindly opened up to D&C 88:124: Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. I thought that was hilarious but we were both dumbfounded and Trent took that verse very seriously and continued in his obedience. If you ask a group of youth about the scriptures and why they struggle with being consistent they will probably say that they are boring and confusing and that it feels like just another chore. You ask Trent why and he will answer that he find joy in reading but that honestly, there are days that it is hard. But that the more you do it, the more meaning you find in it and the more you learn. Trent continues to read because he loves the Lord and it helps him remember who he is. He knows the WHYs and isn’t afraid to stand out and be a light at church, school, and on the football field.

            Marianne Williamson said,“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

            My mother told me recently that there was a time when she remembers seeing me at my brightest and most powerful. It was while I was Relief Society President and right after when I was working in Ecuador. I completely agree. I never felt so happy and confident before that or since. I was so in touch with the Lord and who I was and had an eternal perspective. Caring for the sisters in my ward and being with the sweetest children and humble people of Ecuador completely put me into perspective. It came to my attention that we are simply human and that being so in touch with my Heavenly Father can sometimes be tiring. That might sound funny but I know when I have an amazing experience, I have to just sit and let it sink in.. breathe for a bit while I comprehend what just happened. It is almost scary. That light scares people sometimes and that’s what made me unconsciously let that light fade little by little. We must not be afraid to be powerful and we shouldn’t play small because we are all meant to shine.

            One of my favorite personal traditions that I do is use the temple grounds to relax, think, talk, or whatever I need. It’s a place where I can sit in my car and feel like I am just with my Heavenly Father. I love how I feel so close to Him and that he hears every word, catches every tear, I can almost feel arms around me when I need it. And it almost scares me a little. I don’t like people knowing or seeing me like that. I’ve struggled with thinking that is weakness. But I know that really, it’s strength. It’s like in relationships when you say so much or get to the point where you know.. you’re vulnerable. It’s scary. But that doesn’t mean its wrong or weak. It really is my that light, not the darkness within ourselves that scare us.

             I know that traditions are a key part in remembering that we are children of God and that we are meant to shine. If it weren’t for the simple, little traditions of scripture study, prayer, tithing, modesty or the bigger traditions of FHE or going to the lake I wouldn’t have a sense of identity and belonging. I am grateful for these little reminders and the opportunity I had to see them once again. I know I am a child of God and that he loves and knows me and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.