"The handmaiden of the Lord is filled with SPIRITUAL AWARENESS. Scriptures are guidelines for her life. As a daughter of God, she knows she is an important part of his eternal plan. She looks to him for comfort and guidance. She recognizes the power and authority of the priesthood. She listens to and honors the Lord's servants. (Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all...things shall be added unto you. 3 Nephi 13:33)
She lives in a spiritual home where harmony, love, and beauty dwell. It is a gracious, welcoming place for those who live there and for those who visit. The handmaiden is one who helps make it so. Her heart is happy; her hands are busy as she learns to use the HOMEMAKING ARTS. (Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3,4)
To love is to serve. To serve is to love. The handmaiden of the Lord is blessed with special gifts of tenderness and concern for others. SERVICE and COMPASSION are part of her everyday existence. She is loved for the loving service she gives. (When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. Mosiah 2:17)
The window of her soul are open wide as the handmaiden of the Lord rejoices in being alive and part of a world filled with wonder and beauty. She finds RECREATION for her soul-spirit and body-as she lives close to the WORLD of NATURE God has created for her. (Yea, all things which come of the earth...are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; ...to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. D&C 59:18, 19)
The handmaiden of the Lord is a product of her culture, heritage, talents, and the way she uses them. She seeks for beauty and understanding wherever it is found...in life...in books...in a song...or in prayer. CULTURAL ARTS and EDUCATION become stepping stones to the enrichment and fulfillment of her roles in life. (Whatsoever things are true,...honest,...just,...pure,...lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8)
Each handmaiden has gifts from God that are hers alone. She looks for ways of PERSONAL and SOCIAL REFINEMENT to enhance these gifts. As she meets her individual challenges in her preparation to meet the Savior, she is strong and gentle, steadfast and gracious, courageous and humble. She likes herself and accepts herself for what she is--a daughter of God. (For verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom. D&C 25:1)" BEHOLD THY HANDMAIDEN, Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1974
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As I look back into this little book and read what is written above, I reflect back on the most impressionable years of my life. I have fond memories of how I strived for perfection and acceptance by adhering to the laws and boundaries that were set before me by the Mormon church. The flowery wording and the 'feel good' promises that the church gave did nothing for me in the long run. The words above are so wonderful, they are too good to be real. I spent so much time doing what I thought I should do for salvation, that my mind was totally programed to think nothing else. I grew up with hardly any ability to make any decisions for myself and I am still learning how to cope with the harsh realities of life. When I was taught how to gain comfort from God, I was never told what I really needed to be comforted from.
HANDMAIDEN 1. A woman or girl servant or attendant. 2. that which accompanies in a useful but subordinate capacity.
My heart yearned to be all that I could be and do all that I could do, so I could make it to heaven. I was never taught how to create the proper 'boundaries' I needed for my own survival. I got lost in the process of 'when you are in the service of your fellow beings', I could not see that I was getting destroyed in the whole mess. Now that I have broken away from all of the "laws" that I was required to do, I am in a hole, and I have extreme difficulty dealing with all of those years of having my head screwed on backwards.
It's not easy to pull out of the brain washing that Mormonism did to me. I pray that none of you have to go through what I went through, and still go through. I understand that time heals all wounds. I know that it's going to take a lot of time for me to heal.
She lives in a spiritual home where harmony, love, and beauty dwell. It is a gracious, welcoming place for those who live there and for those who visit. The handmaiden is one who helps make it so. Her heart is happy; her hands are busy as she learns to use the HOMEMAKING ARTS. (Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3,4)
To love is to serve. To serve is to love. The handmaiden of the Lord is blessed with special gifts of tenderness and concern for others. SERVICE and COMPASSION are part of her everyday existence. She is loved for the loving service she gives. (When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. Mosiah 2:17)
The window of her soul are open wide as the handmaiden of the Lord rejoices in being alive and part of a world filled with wonder and beauty. She finds RECREATION for her soul-spirit and body-as she lives close to the WORLD of NATURE God has created for her. (Yea, all things which come of the earth...are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; ...to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. D&C 59:18, 19)
The handmaiden of the Lord is a product of her culture, heritage, talents, and the way she uses them. She seeks for beauty and understanding wherever it is found...in life...in books...in a song...or in prayer. CULTURAL ARTS and EDUCATION become stepping stones to the enrichment and fulfillment of her roles in life. (Whatsoever things are true,...honest,...just,...pure,...lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8)
Each handmaiden has gifts from God that are hers alone. She looks for ways of PERSONAL and SOCIAL REFINEMENT to enhance these gifts. As she meets her individual challenges in her preparation to meet the Savior, she is strong and gentle, steadfast and gracious, courageous and humble. She likes herself and accepts herself for what she is--a daughter of God. (For verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom. D&C 25:1)" BEHOLD THY HANDMAIDEN, Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1974
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As I look back into this little book and read what is written above, I reflect back on the most impressionable years of my life. I have fond memories of how I strived for perfection and acceptance by adhering to the laws and boundaries that were set before me by the Mormon church. The flowery wording and the 'feel good' promises that the church gave did nothing for me in the long run. The words above are so wonderful, they are too good to be real. I spent so much time doing what I thought I should do for salvation, that my mind was totally programed to think nothing else. I grew up with hardly any ability to make any decisions for myself and I am still learning how to cope with the harsh realities of life. When I was taught how to gain comfort from God, I was never told what I really needed to be comforted from.
HANDMAIDEN 1. A woman or girl servant or attendant. 2. that which accompanies in a useful but subordinate capacity.
My heart yearned to be all that I could be and do all that I could do, so I could make it to heaven. I was never taught how to create the proper 'boundaries' I needed for my own survival. I got lost in the process of 'when you are in the service of your fellow beings', I could not see that I was getting destroyed in the whole mess. Now that I have broken away from all of the "laws" that I was required to do, I am in a hole, and I have extreme difficulty dealing with all of those years of having my head screwed on backwards.
It's not easy to pull out of the brain washing that Mormonism did to me. I pray that none of you have to go through what I went through, and still go through. I understand that time heals all wounds. I know that it's going to take a lot of time for me to heal.
4 comments:
You wrote the word, the word I learned all by myself after much grief and heartache. BOUNDARIES...not much to say here, except, thank goodness we have them now.
Yeah, thank goodness!!!!
God Bless You!!!
It was never your fault for being borne in a Mormon home and indoctrinated into the Mormon church while you could not have possibly known any different. You never stood a chance. your Mother and Father, the two most important people in your lives, think of the influence that has on the child's physiological development. We all start in the wrong place, but all that matters is that we finish in the right place. To do that we have to run in the right race. Good to see you doing that now and good to see you using your experiences to help others.
I pray for you to find joy in your life!
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