To bear or not to bear . . .

Me, with one of our many grandchildren.

When Vicki and I were first married we made a conscious decision to have as many children as the Lord wanted us to have.  It was, and still is, our testimony that the Lord can reveal this important matter to couples through the gift of revelation.  I thought that 6 children would be a good number since there were six in my family growing up and that was more children than most couples had.  To my surprise and delight, we have been blessed with 10 children, 2 boys and 8 girls, and we couldn’t be happier.  We would have been willing to have even more children, but that is the limit that the Lord placed on us.  When Vicki was older, we had numerous witnesses to proceed with yet one more pregnancy, which we were told would result in a baby girl.  When Vicki was 46, Alyse was born.  

This photo was taken on Vicki's 61st birthday.

Alyse, Shanelle and Rochelle with Shanelle's new baby Finn. 

 Both Rochelle and Kristin will have first babies within the next month's time.

            Of those 10 children, 7 are now married and we will be celebrating Corinne’s wedding in just a few short weeks on November 7^th.  That will leave our two youngest children, Audrie, who is on an LDS church mission in Rosario Argentina and Alyse, who is in 9^th grade, as our only remaining single children.  We currently have 16 grandchildren, which number will soon grow to 19 since three daughters expecting.  Eight of the grandchildren are girls and 8 are boys.

            Our daughters have married wonderful men which have become like sons to us.  Our sons have married wonderful women whom we love like our own daughters. We have enjoyed getting to know them, their parents and their families, which has added to the richness of our lives.  We look forward to future weddings and more grandchildren as our posterity grows.  

            This morning I read an article in the Deseret News written by Richard and Linda Eyre about the declining birthrate in developed countries.  Of the 224 sovereign states in the world, 116 now have birthrates below the replacement level.  This is leading to economic decline in those countries and places their societies at risk and can cause their cultures to stagnate.  This is alarming news and it has spurred some developed countries, like Russia and Singapore, to offer money to couples to have more children in order to bolster their economies.   

            One of the principle causes of a lower birthrate is the decline in marriage.  Marriage, as a scared institution between one man and one woman, is not only under attack by proponents of same sex marriage but also by people who fail to get married at all.  Unmarried couples and same sex couples are less likely to have children, and less likely to stay together, to provide a stable home for any children that they do have.  What a tragedy this is.  The biblical command to “multiply and replenish the earth” is just as valid today as it was 6,000 years ago and it was part of the ceremony when Vicki and I were married on December 11, 1976.  I am so glad that we obeyed that divine injunction as we have witnessed the promised blessings and truly “have joy in our posterity”.

Janna Danelle: Redefining marriage hurts women, children | Deseret News

Janna Danelle: Redefining marriage hurts women, children | Deseret News



This is the best article I've seen yet that explains the dangers of redefining marriage as anything other than one man and one woman.  Everybody should read it, especially judges who have cases come before them on this issue.



Marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God.  When man tries to define it as anything else it is destructive to every man, woman and child and to society as a whole.  My heart goes out to the author of this article and her children and all those in similar situations. 

A Case for Submission



I was selected for an acting role not too long ago that I found surprisingly easy to play.  I was to be an assertive, controlling mother to an adult son.  The character even shared my same name, Victoria.  I am quite sure the ease of this role was not a complete surprise to either my children or husband.  Some of my real life roles have required more than just a little assertiveness when, as an older mom,  I investigated child abuse and  then taught Youth in Custody. When our children needed someone to advocate in their behalf, they usually asked for Mom because, as we all know, a mother bear can be the most formidable of foes.  However, submissive obedience, which seems to be on the other end of the personality spectrum, is also vital to Christian living.

 

Vicki as Victoria in "Think Outside the Blog"

 

The importance of submission and order was demonstrated in an article I read years ago about a clipper ship that broke a 140 year old sailing record.  Two men had taken a voyage from San Francisco to Boston in 69 days, 19 1/2 hours.  The clipper, Northern Light, had taken this same voyage in 1853 in 76 days and six hours.  The two men said they battled waves 18 feet high while passing Bermuda, but what would have threatened them most were disagreements that potentially could have flared up "into big problems", they said.  What prevented the latter from happening was that prior to their voyage, "there was always a clear understanding that Wilson was in command, Biewenga said."  Having a designated order in businesses, organizations and even the family helps things run well.  When it comes to things relating to the gospel of Jesus Christ, submission is not only functional, but sanctifying.  But to whom and what should we be subject to?

The Clipper Northern Light

As our children grew, in spite our fair share of sibling rivalries and temper tantrums, they increased in their capacities for obedience. My son Brett, for example, was very bright and capable of debate and argument; he was nonetheless submissive and obedient to us as parents.  He understood that he needed to be submissive, not because his parents were perfect, but because he wanted the blessings that would come from honoring his parents.

 

The importance of submission to ecclesiastical leaders was reinforced to me when our local church leaders assigned everyone to read the Book of Mormon in one month's time.  I was pretty excited about that as others could learn to love that book as much as I did.  I was the gospel doctrine teacher at the time.  For some unknown reason, I thought I didn't need to complete the assignment as I already read it daily.  As the days went by, ward members would call me up and share wonderful insights about what they were reading.  Day by day, I felt a growing uneasiness that usually signaled I was in need of significant repentance.   I simply couldn't figure out what was causing me such spiritual discomfort.  I finally prayed about this feeling.  While on my knees, another ward member called and shared yet another uplifting experience.  I finally figured it out.  I am usually quite submissive, for the same reasons my son was.  I wondered how I could read the book with so many small children, so much to do and only one week left to complete the assignment.  Just then, my toddler walked in with a tape recorder, the same one you see in Toy Story, and handed it to me.   I simply listened to the Book of Mormon using tapes and thus completed the assignment.  That uncomfortable feeling diminished.

My thoughts about wives submitting to their husbands changed a bit when my sister once tried an interesting experiment for a month.  She decided she would really treat her husband as if he were the Lord of their home.  She confessed she anticipated he would love her more because of this focus, but what surprised her was that her love for him grew as a result of her efforts.  Sadly, there are those men who believe that the Patriarchal order implies that men are more important or holy than women.  The Prophet Joseph declared:  "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.  Hence many are called and few are chosen.  No power or influence ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned, (D&C 121:39-41)."  Submission, of course, does not require we act against moral or civil law, but the importance of the  patriarchal order was reaffirmed in the Garden of Eden as the Lord commanded Eve,  ". . . thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee, (Moses 4:22)."  I think there may be hidden power in this practice.  I have always liked the thoughts of Goethe:  How we see people, is how we treat them, how we treat them is what they become." 

 

The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johannwolf378590.html#u31YHwRvT8iaFw8h.99

 In in the book of Ether, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, Jared relates what happened to his family during the erection of the Tower of Babel.   It is clear that the brother of Jared is the ecclesiastical or political head of his family.  It is also clear that Jared was subject to him, but had the greater gift of prophecy.  These two brothers and their interaction show what is possible when the rules of submission are followed in faith.  Jared meekly shared his ideas and inspiration with his brother and the brother of Jared was open to his ideas and prayerfully considered them.  The result was delivery and progress.  I simply consider what is possible in a family where both husband and wife work together in this manner. 

Some of my greatest blessings have come when I submitted to the will of my husband in patience and faith in family decisions.  Some of his greatest blessings have come when he has prayerfully considered what I was feeling impressed to share.  One of those times occurred when we were short on finances.  I had earnestly prayed over our circumstance.  One night, I dreamed that we bought a new car and this helped our circumstance.  This made no sense, even to me, but I still shared this dream with Bryan.  He initially thought this could not be inspiration, but the more he thought about it, something began to click.  We ended up selling our car which was paid for.  We then paid off all of our then current debts.  We purchased a very efficient diesel Chevette which got over 50 miles to the gallon.  During that time, Bryan was compensated for mileage at work.  We actually made money each month during the length of that loan. Our greatest challenges resulted when these principles were not adhered to. 

In our lives we sometimes feel at the mercy of either those who have stewardship over us or at the mercy of those over whom we have stewardship.  We are not measured by whether others choose the paths we think are best, but rather that we gave them the best opportunities to make the best choices.  Perhaps, process trumps outcome; but as we try to more perfectly employ the process, we begin to see the power of the gospel at work.  I had a time in my life when the requests and desires to please others seemed more than I could handle.  I had a passel of children and a newly widowed mother.  She wanted my company on a daily basis, but could not handle the activity and fussiness of small children.  When I stayed home to be a good mother, I felt I was neglecting my mother and when I spent the day with her, I felt I was neglecting my  children.  I began to somewhat resent my mother's constant requests.  I looked far into my future to the time I could possibly be a widow and I thought about one of my daughters being faced with this same dilemma.  I suddenly knew the answer.  I wouldn't want her to try and please me in this thing, but rather please God.  I took this concern over balancing my service to my mother and my children and gave it to God.  I would then pray daily about my acts of service and I would get a feeling to either stay home with my children or go visit my mother.  Much of the time the answer was to go see my mother, but take my little ones with me.  Our half hour drives to and then from her home became some of our best time together as little ones slept and the older ones and I just talked together as we drove.  Shanelle recently shared that these talks when we often talked about the gospel were her sweetest memories. The kids were amazing on those days, a tender mercy.  What surprised me most was how my feelings towards my mother grew in love and tenderness.  I began to realize the promises made in the scriptures which promise that as we come unto Christ and learn of him, His yoke is easy and his burden light, (see Matthew 11:28-30).

When researching for a book we were writing, my sister happened upon a description of Sarah, wife of Abraham in a book at the library entitled the Qumran Genesis Apocryphon which also explains Pharoah's interest in her even when she was advanced in age.  We found this description fascinating and the spirit bore witness to us that these ancient Judaic traditions likely had some basis in truth.  We included this quote in our book,  ". . . how lovely were her eyes, how delectable her nose, and the whole bloom of her face. . . how lovely her breast . . .  her arms how perfect. . . how lovely her palms, and how slender each finger of her hands. . .  Of all the virgins and brides that go into the bridal chamber, none is more beautiful than she; yet with all this beauty she has great wisdom. . ."  The account went on to say that her gift of prophecy even exceeded that of Abraham's, but that in everything she reverenced her husband and called him Lord. First Peter 3:6 also records:  "Even as Sara obeyed Abraham calling him lord; whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are afraid with any amazement."   Interestingly, my sister and I wrote this book in 1981 in response to some LDS women who were chaining themselves to the temple gates in outrage over the counsel of the First Presidency, who reiterated the important role of women as it related to their duties as wives and mothers.  I believe it was Sarah's righteous submission to her husband and the priesthood he held that increased her sensitivity to the spirit as Elder Russell M. Nelson explains, "Honoring the priesthood fosters respect, respect promotes reverence, and reverence invites revelation” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 49; or Ensign, May 1993, 38).  I think that kind of submission she demonstrated even made her more beautiful.  Parley P. Pratt taught that the Holy Ghost ". . . develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being” (Key to the Science of Theology, 9th ed. [1965], 101).
 

I believe the words of Samuel, the Old Testament prophet, apply both in conditions of submission to those set over us, as well as the commands of God.  "Behold, to obey is greater than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams, (1 Samuel 15:22)."  The greatest submission is found in submitting more perfectly to the will of God and involving Him in our daily decisions.  Our favorite family scripture begins with the admonition, "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and he will direct thee for good. . . (Alma 37:37)."   Perhaps, in that effort, we will realize an even increased ability to love Him and those around us.  Likely there will be few men and women that actually get this submission thing right.  I think the righteously submissive are characteristically bold and tender, assertive and patient, firm and forgiving.   The power to be appropriately submissive comes from strong testimony, an abiding love of God and dependence upon the influence of the spirit.  I want to strive to be that kind of submissive. 

 

The Story of How Our Little Family Came to Be...and Our Journey to What We May Become

I am the fourth of ten children born to Bryan and Vicki Robinson.  As one of the older half, I was able to witness 5 younger siblings being brought into our family.  The only birth I don’t remember is Rochelle’s because she is less than two years younger than I am, and I was too young to remember my life before she was a part of it.  Growing up, nothing was more exciting to me than knowing my mom was expecting another baby.  It would often be my first happy thought upon waking each morning.  I just loved babies!  My love for children and babies would continue throughout high school, and as a senior, I was unsurprisingly voted, “Most Likely to Have 20 Kids.”

I met my husband for the first time when I was 18.  Two years later, he finally asked me out.  The next year, on my 21^st half birthday, I married him in the Mount Timpanogus Temple in 2004.  In December 2005, our first little bundle of joy arrived.  Our second bundle of joy arrived 18 months later, our third 21 months after that, and our fourth 26 months after that.  Today, I am 23 weeks pregnant, expecting our fifth child and fourth boy in July.  Motherhood is blissful.  I tell people all the time that I have my dream job.  I am a WIFE and a MOTHER.  

While my life is beautiful, and I have been incredibly blessed, it isn’t always easy.  Marriage takes a lot of work.  Raising children is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.  The scene in our home, at times, hasn’t been very pretty.  I have realized that I am imperfect in more ways than I thought possible.   At times, I’ve questioned who in the world gave me permission to have this family when I feel so inadequate in being the wife and mother they need me to be.  And that’s when I realize, that’s the whole point.  We don’t have families because we ARE everything we are supposed to be.  We have families because they help us BECOME everything we are meant to become.   That is why we believe that FAMILIES are central to the PLAN OF SALVATION.    See  "The Family: A Proclamation to the World".

Being a wife and mother has helped me grow, stretch, and change in ways I didn’t even know were necessary.  When I was single, I thought I was a good person.  I didn’t know marriage would teach me how much selfishness I had to overcome, nor did I know that it would take parenthood to teach me patience and compassion like nothing else had.  In the very act of mimicking our Heavenly Parents, I become more like them.  I have come to understand that this family of mine is my “trial run” for the eternities.  We believe that if we reach our fullest potential, we not only get to live with our Heavenly Parents again, but we get to be like them and have spirit children or our own for eternity.  That thought has always been so exciting to me!

My parents taught me about my divine potential from such a young age that when I first read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” when it was published in 1995, all of it seemed so basic to me that I wondered why the leaders of our church felt the need to put those statements in writing in such a formal manner.  Now, as world views change and I can see the generally accepted definitions of family and marriage being altered, I am beginning to understand.   Finding a traditional family is becoming more and more uncommon.  I had a dream recently that I felt could represent the growing trend.

In the dream, Craig and I were going to prom, something we had never done in real life.  The dance was going to be held in a high school, even though we weren’t actually high school students anymore.  I knew we were married in the dream because, as we walked hand in hand to the dance, I was telling him that I was just beginning to feel the baby’s first movements in my belly.  In the dream, I was pregnant but not yet showing.  It’s funny, but I remember exactly what we were wearing.  Craig looked handsome in his black tuxedo, and I was wearing a simple but elegant, long, emerald green dress.  I remember that the dress had three quarter sleeves and a high boat neckline.   I felt regal.  I knew, even in the dream, that my dress would not be considered trendy or fashionable at a high school dance these days, where short, sleeveless dresses are more in style.  Nonetheless, I had never felt so beautiful.  When we got to the gymnasium dance floor, I realized that over half the student body was treating the dance like a stomp instead of a formal event.  I saw many girls in tank tops, shorts and flip flops.  In addition, many people had come without a date and were attending stag.  The music was fast and loud, and many were dancing alone.  There were still others that were dressed up formally like we were, but there were so many doing the exact opposite that I wondered for a moment if I should feel out of place.  In the end, I decided that I didn’t care.  I liked being dressed up, I loved feeling so beautiful, and I was so excited to be there with my sweet husband.  I remember thinking that I was finally at a school dance where I knew I was completely in love with my date!

I feel, in some ways, that this silly little dream can represent how many people view marriage today.  So many are treating marriage casually, exemplified by the rising divorce rate, the number of people who cohabitate before marriage or instead of getting married, and the number of childless couples who are married, that our beliefs about abstaining from premarital sex and having children are being viewed as old-fashioned.  (See Time Magazine’s cover The Childfree Life: When having it all means not having children.)   I feel the fact that Craig and I were dressed up so formally could symbolize that our marriage resembles one that is more traditional.  We are certainly not alone in valuing traditional marriage, but there are so many with differing views that it is easy to wonder if we are the ones becoming the minority.

I am here to testify that traditional marriage is as important today as it ever was.  I feel so blessed to have a husband that does all in his power to provide for his family.  I feel so blessed to be a homemaker as I strive to raise children who know a loving Heavenly Father.  I feel so blessed to be able to use the Atonement of my Savior as I fall short of perfection every day.  I am grateful each day, for the opportunity to become a better person, a better wife, a better mother, and a better daughter of God.  

The following is a Mormon Message about fathers and how parenthood teaches us about the nature of our Heavenly Parents.  It is beautiful!

Putting Faith to the Test

As the oldest daughter in the Robinson family, I feel strongly that it is my turn to share my own story of conversion.  Though I always believed and hoped that the things that were taught in my home were true, it was during my junior and senior year in high school that I really put those beliefs and hopes to the test.

At that time, I was a shy, awkward teenager.  I did well scholastically, but not so much socially.  Many were nice to me and I had several acquaintances, but few close friends.  This fact resulted in my actually eating lunch in the classroom with my Spanish teacher and a few other social misfits during my senior year in high school.

I think my lack of social prowess and my perfectionist tendencies resulted in my focusing a lot on my school work.  Of course, as a perfectionist, I felt that something was wrong if I didn't have an "A" in every class.  Though I tried my best, I always had at least one class that caused me to not gain that perfect 4.0.  Usually, it was the easiest class in my schedule such as art or gym that kept me from obtaining my goal.

At this season of my life, there were about eight kids in the family.  My mother had my second youngest sister Audrie (number nine) when I was seventeen.  I remember my mom making regular trips to her mother's (my grandma's) home in Bountiful, Utah.  This was a thirty minute drive one way.  Sometimes my mother would stay in Bountiful for a while visiting with her mother and helping her with errands or she would bring Grandma Hazel to our home in South Jordan and do her best to keep Grandma happy while managing the house and us kids.  Later in the evening she would have to spend at least another hour taking Grandma back to Bountiful and returning back home again.  Since a few of us were rather young, I remember kids getting cranky as they traveled and trying to pacify them while my mother drove.  My mother loved my grandma, but I was witness to the stress she often felt as she tried to do her best to serve and felt like she was falling short.  My mother shared with me that she desperately wanted to have the peace that is promised in the scriptures to those who seek Him. 

At the suggestion of a friend, my mother determined that she would try a different approach to her prayers.  Instead of simply asking for the Lord to help her with her agenda, she began to ask what she could repent of, what she was prepared to learn and what the Lord wanted her to do that day and she wrote it down.  Her prayers were answered and I saw numerous miracles take place as she lay her burdens down at His feet.

One night, I was feeling particularly overwhelmed.  The honors and AP classes that I was in meant that I had a lot of homework, but not a lot of time to get it all done.  On one particular night, I remember the tears as I considered everything I thought that I needed to do, but thought that even if I stayed up all night, I would not be able to complete it all.  I pondered how my mother was able to get answers to her prayers and wondered, "If  the Lord will help her, will He do the same for me?"

I decided to find out.  I poured my heart out to my Heavenly Father and asked him to forgive me and asked him for his help.  I gave my imperfect self to him.  The tears were replaced with peace.  A clear impression came to finish a simple task, but the biggest answer I received was that I should go to bed.  I did so.  The next day, things fell into place and I got clear impressions about what I should do.  I started to wonder if I had to wait until I was troubled and upset to get assistance from heaven.  I discovered that I did not.  I began starting each day with reading my scriptures and saying my prayers.  I prayed that the Lord would guide me and stopped worrying about what I thought I should do.  Instead, I asked for His Spirit to be with me and for His help in knowing what He wanted me to do. 

Miracles occurred.  The best blessing I received was joy.  I was so happy.  I learned that I didn't need to be popular, super smart or devastatingly beautiful to be happy.  I just needed Him.  The more I focused on the Lord and put Him first in my life, the better my life became.  Even when I was eating lunch with my Spanish teacher, I was happy.  When little things didn't go the way I had hoped, I was happy.  I discovered there was more to life than homework and I began to really let go and enjoy life.  I remember feeling impressions to go on walks with friends, go to the mall, watch a show on T.V. and I did so without guilt.  Often, I still did homework but it was no longer burdensome.  Instead, when I studied, my mind was clear and I remembered what I read.  I prayed for help with tests and homework and I got it. 

There were a few occurrences that stick out in my mind more than the rest.  Once, I remember having the prompting to not worry about a certain homework assignment.  I acted in faith and didn't do the assignment and did other things instead.  When I got to school the next day, the teacher informed the class that he had changed his mind about that assignment and it wasn't due that day after all.

Another time, I remembered getting to school late and missing first period.  It just so happened that report cards were handed out that day in first period class, so I went back to my first period teacher later in the day to get mine.  He remarked that he had taken note of my report card.  He said, "You got all A's and one A-."

I replied that I knew.  He said, "The A- was in my class."  I again replied that I was aware of that fact.

He went on to say that he didn't want me to have an A-.  If I would do a three page report for him, he would change my grade to an A even though the quarter had officially ended.  I did the report and he changed the grade.

The last experience I will relate took place the last day of class before Christmas break my senior year.  I had a calculus test that day.  I recall that there were work problems on the test and a total of about ten problems.  I started with number one and wasn't able to figure it out.  I went on to number two and couldn't do that one either.  I worked my way through the test and to my horror, I came to the realization that I wasn't able to finish a single problem.  It slowly dawned on me that if I didn't finish any problems that meant that I had failed the test.  It was with trepidation that I approached my teacher when time was up and I had to go on to my next class.  I asked him what I should do with my test since I hadn't finished it.  He said that I should turn it in and I would get credit for what I did do. 
 I replied, "But I didn't finish any of them."

He was silent for what seemed like an eternity.  Then he told me to throw my test away!  My heart sank.  Then he said, "Everyone will retake the test after Christmas break."

I was amazed.  Because I didn't know how to solve the problems, my teacher had every single one of his students retake that test after he retaught the concepts.  The second time I took the test, I got an A.

When the year was over, I remember the summer day when my final report card arrived.  I thought of the experiences I had that year and the peace and joy that had reigned in my heart. 
I knew that no matter what my report card looked like, I had already received more than I could have ever asked for as I had sought to turn my life over to the Savior.  However, the scripture found in Matthew 6:33 came to mind as I opened up the envelope, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  My report card was perfect.

The faith I exerted during my high school days and the results that followed became the foundation of my testimony.  I have never been able to doubt, even when subsequent, longer-lasting trials have come along, that if I place my faith and trust in God, I will be delivered and the rewards will come.  Even if I do not see the fruits of my faith until the next life, God is worthy of my trust.  I believe in the power of the Holy Ghost and His ability to impart personal revelation to me and all others who seek it.  If we seek Him, we shall find Him and be guided back to our eternal home to live with Him someday.

Jeanette Pulley 

Bryan found this article about a liberal professor whose life is completely changed as she tries to answer a few simple questions.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/january-february/my-train-wreck-conversion.html

This article demonstrates both honest inquiry and effective sharing of beliefs.  It also teaches of the power of the atonement and the role of faith in healing.  Finally, it establishes the vital roles of scripture reading and prayer as they relate to conversion.   

There is a great article on why Christians must share their faith by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, this morning.  Elder Oaks is an apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865597383/At-BYU-Idaho-Elder-Oaks-calls-LDS-members-believers-everywhere-to-action-as-witnesses-of-God.html One of his statements is as follows:   "Those who have used human reasoning to supersede divine influence in their lives have diminished themselves and cheapened civilization in the process,".  Personally, I had taken about ten hours to write a similar essay a few weeks ago.  The desire to share why Christians can't be silent was the reason for my establishing this blog.  Some portions of my essay:

I am a Christian.  I want to represent my Savior well and follow his example.  As I have prayed to know how to better do that, I feel the Lord has blessed me with some adversity and trials.  These trials have taught me what I don’t think I could have seen clearly without them.  I am a Christian and a sinner.  I don’t think I have met anyone who needs the atonement more than I do.  The cumulative effect of my self-will, pride and missteps are sufficient to prevent me from achieving eternal life, unless I consistently employ the repentance process and seek to improve every day from this hour forward by adding to my knowledge of gospel principles and laying my doings at Christ’s  feet.  I need to not only follow the Savior by being kind and loving, but I need to emulate the way in which he got his errand.  The Savior’s errand was to do and promote the work of the Father.

Where do I start?  One way is to seek to know truth, to really seek to understand God’s character and attributes and my true relationship to him, as well as the purposes of life.    It is, with the help of heaven, an attempt to see myself as I really am.   When I see myself as more than I am or less than I am, I am terribly handicapped in doing good for others.   I have sought to know these things through the instrument of prayer and study.  I have read the Bible and the Book of Mormon and I believe these books to be the word of God.  When I have tried to implement the teachings and principles contained in the scriptures, I have felt a sense of spiritual progress and a growing knowledge that these principles are true.  I believe that God is both omniscient and omnipotent.  I have sought to find a church which has the authority to baptize and bestow the potential of the perpetual companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

God has knowledge of all things past, present and future and based on that omniscience, he has foreordained individuals to accomplish things in this life that are particular to them.  Neal Maxwell, an LDS theologian and apostle now deceased, authored the following:  “It does no violence to our frail human logic to observe that there cannot be a grand plan of salvation for all mankind, unless there is also a plan for each individual.”   I believe we had a pre-mortal existence and that there was a war fought in heaven that included the spirits of all those who would be assigned to this earth.  We were given volition to choose Satan’s plan or God’s plan.  The war was fought over agency.  Though God is omniscient, his omniscience did not and has not violated the agency of man in the least degree.   I believe that this earth life is a test, actually part two of a two part test.  The first test was to choose either the Father’s plan or Satan’s plan.  Those who chose the Father’s plan now get to enjoy mortality.   Now, we get to live by faith, having forgotten all we learned there, but when truth is presented to us, we have the capacity to remember it, if we are honest truth seekers.  We are currently being tested to see if we will keep the commandments of God and prepare for eternity.  At the conclusion of this life we will be judged by him who is completely fair and receive a designation and ultimate condition of existence based on how we performed.    Faith in true things can only be awakened and obtained by hearing true concepts, by hearing the testimony of those who have faith.  That is why the ancients were commanded to write.  It is why those who profess knowledge of God are commanded to share.  It is the economy of heaven.  Just as evil is hastened by the collective efforts of those who are evil, such as in gang activity, good is promoted by gathering and sharing with others of faith.   We will be judged greatly as Christ declared, in relation to how we interfaced with others, how we treated them, how we judged them, and how we ministered to them.  Many will come to that judgment believing they served well, only to be told they never knew Him, nor applied His doctrine.   

Because I am a Christian and I believe the Bible to be the word of God, I have come to define certain behaviors as sins.  They are those things which offend God and make us unclean.  There are certain behaviors that please God and when those behaviors, beliefs and attitudes are not present, they constitute sins of omission.  Anyone who has, through revelatory experience, determined that there is a God and that Jesus Christ is our Divine Redeemer, has been commanded to promote such.  For example, if you had knowledge of a calamity that was about to threaten your neighborhood, you would be remiss for not acting on that knowledge or sharing that knowledge with your neighbor.  Thus if someone believes in the Bible and believes that sexual impurity,  in any of its forms, would impact one’s condition in the world to come as well as happiness, peace and safety in this life,  and that person doesn’t promote that belief, God would hold him accountable.  The Bible is clear that premarital sex, (sex outside of marriage) and adultery, (which is sex with someone other than your wedded spouse), and homosexuality are sins before God, (I Corinthians 6:18, Proverbs 6:32 and Leviticus chapter 18).  It stands to reason that anyone who promotes or encourages sexual immorality as  being  acceptable before God, would be not be considered as one who is valiant in the testimony of Christ.   Sharing these things is based on a basic premise, as promoted by Paul in the New Testament,  that God is a “rewarder” of those who keep his commandments, (Hebrews 11:6).  In other words, good things will follow living a life of righteousness.  Paul was also astute in the following observation recorded in Hebrews 1:9:  “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”    The goal here is not, as many suppose, to make everyone feel comfortable with their current state of righteousness and not make any waves.  But, often it takes someone who doesn’t see themselves as above reproach to really impact others for good.  Again, the words of Paul in Hebrews indicate that God needs those “who can have compassion on the ignorant, (those unaware of the laws of God), and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity, (Hebrews 5:2, Italics added).”

 

Some maintain that it isn’t Christian to define certain behaviors as sinful.    They argue, “It makes people feel uncomfortable and wasn’t he the Prince of Peace?” Christ didn’t mince words and he wasn’t afraid to offend others when it came to doctrine or need for change.   He did ask others not to throw stones, figuratively or literally, for none are without sin.  This didn’t mean they weren’t to promote what was good and identify what was sin according to His doctrine.  For a Christian to say there is no sin is to deny there is a God, to deny their faith and be counted as in infidel.   Both Ezekiel 3 and Ezekiel 33 both describe a variety of scenarios concerning those who are willing to raise a warning voice and those who are not.  Christ and Moses were two who were described as having attributes of meekness, (Numbers, 12:3).  Yet, these two were extremely bold and willing to offend.  Inherent in biblical definitions of meekness, one must include obedience to God and faithfulness to his words.   Prophets were frequently stoned for preaching.  Almost all of the original apostles were murdered for promoting their beliefs.  Can we hope to enjoy the same glory as the ancients who were willing to give their very lives if we are unwilling to promote the things that they did.

Isaiah taught that there would be those who would call good evil and evil, good, (Isaiah 5:20).   Isaiah 3:9 relates how in the last days, there would be those who would “declare their sin as Sodom and hide it not” and Paul prophesied that there would be those “without natural affection” . . .  lovers of their own selves.   Peter 2:2 stated that “the way of truth would be evil spoken of”.   I believe the “way of truth” is to seek knowledge through the vehicle of personal revelation.   Paul explained that the things of the spirit can only be spiritually discerned and to all others, it will sound as foolish traditions.   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, (1 Corinthians 2:14)”.  As Americans, we have come a long way in overcoming prejudice, but does that include and presuppose that we should promote evil as acceptable, inconsequential behavior?

I believe that Satan’s greatest tactics involve adding to or taking away from truth.  The adversary is incredibly subtle.   The Prophet Daniel speaks of the abomination of desolation and that abomination which maketh desolate where it ought not to be as signaling the proximity of the last days and great calamity, (See Daniel, chapters 11 and 12).  Could that possibly be a description of a formerly god-fearing nation that  kills its unborn when it is inconvenient to bear and makes it illegal to promote moral values?   The word of God, as recorded in Leviticus 26, rehearses the consequences of a godless nation.  It is not a pretty prophecy.  I believe we live in a promised land and God makes clear that those who forget Him cannot continue to live in a promised land in peace and safety.  Paul spoke of that which is essential to the role of a woman, who “shall be saved in child bearing, (1 Timothy 2:15).” and God, according to Genesis, commanded Adam and Eve to “multiply and replenish the earth,” (Genesis 1:28).  If the bearing and rearing of children is perhaps the most important work or achievement of human beings, as established in the beginning by our first parents, then homosexuality and abortion would not be activities leading toward that end.   It is understandable that the more crucial the principle, the greater Satan’s campaign against it. 

Horrific things have been done to those believed to be homosexuals.  Horrific things have been done to individuals because of their beliefs and practices.  Horrific things have been done to individuals because of their gender.  But for an individual to say that a practice is not in keeping with the word of God and that word of God is contained in what they consider a holy book is not an act of bigotry or prejudice.  It is simply a declaration of their faith.  Efforts to force all members of society to speak, act, and promote as though there is nothing inherently wrong with any form of sexual impurity is in itself an act of bigotry.   It is also bigotry to force others to behave morally.   It is also a sin to reinforce negative patterns of behavior.  Webster defines a bigot as “one who is intolerant of others.”
 

I have concluded that no individual can wait to speak until they are perfect.   I believe, as I stated, that there is a God and that one of the purposes of life is to establish an enduring, permanent relationship with an individual of the opposite sex and raise children.  In raising children I believe it is crucial to teach them what I believe to be true.   I believe that exposure to things that are not wholesome is not wise.  After investigating child abuse, I saw the fruits of alcohol and drug abuse.  I saw that it was  extremely difficult for meth users to overcome their addictions, once having experienced its addictive effects.   I saw the fruits of pornography manifest in domestic violent tendencies.  I saw tender concern for spouses and children diminish as the addictions increased.   I saw the incredible toll that divorce had upon children.     I have and will continue to encourage my children to choose close friends and associates who encourage them in moral integrity.  I will discourage them from watching shows that promote immorality in any of its forms.   I believe that this life is a time to prepare to meet God and that no unclean thing can endure His presence.  I believe that there is life after death.  I believe that a connection with heaven is possible and essential.

Several things are certain:  Either there is a God or there isn’t.  Either the scriptures contained in the Bible are true or they are not, even given errors in translation.  If they are true, then God has established a way for individuals to come to the knowledge of their truthfulness.   Matthew 11:28-30 invites, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”   I simply encourage you to seek Him.  I am currently reading the Bible again from cover to cover.  The important thing is not where we have been, but where we are going.   Isaiah’s words bring great comfort for the repentant sinner, (Isaiah 1:18).  Those who do not think the Bible establishes clear guidelines about morality have not read the scriptures or simply choose not to believe them.   You simply cannot read the words of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul and a host of others and not conclude they didn’t see our day with exactness. 

I am not here to get you to accept my interpretations of the Bible, nor dictate what you should do when and if you determine that the Bible contains the word of God.    I want you to read the scriptures and then prayerfully decide what your course of action is to be.   But, what is of great concern to me is that increasing numbers who believe in the Bible have rendered themselves silent and encourage all others to be silent in the name of righteousness.  Were that righteous protocol, there would be no holy scriptures, there would be no standard by which to judge our doctrine, there would be no promotion of that which is good and no means by which to improve our condition here or rid our garments of the blood and sins of this generation.   We daily watch shows in our living rooms that promote immorality as acceptable and normal, with little if any negative consequence.  Then, we wonder why our children enjoy premarital sex and our legislators pass legislation that protect and encourage the immoral among us. 

 

In conclusion:

 

With all of my heart, I feel the words of Christ are worthy of careful and prayerful consideration and that there is no better time than the present to do so.  As in the beginning, we are again in a war for the salvation of souls.  We cannot force others to be righteous, but we can put on the whole armour of God, which by in large, we haven’t done. 

  Ephesians chapter 11:

 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

With Love,Vicki Robinson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lights, Camera, Action

We have never been a very musical, performing family, though some of us can sing on key and country dance with the best of them.  Thank goodness for the musical talent of our sons and daughters in law.  But we are admitted hams.  The minute the children got their hands on a video camera, they began filming themselves.  This has led to  wonderful family tradition called the Robinson Family Film Festival.  Even the young children write, cast and direct short films.  One of our first was called, A Horse Named Jasper. 

 

 

 

We thought the children might actually be good enough to do this professionally.  We experienced some beginner's luck with that.  Corinne's first gig was a Ford commercial.  She was compensated about $1400 for 20 minutes of work getting in and out of a Ford SUV.  Instead of the cast being powdered between takes, the car was polished.  We actually did land roles for feature films, commercials and industrials. 

 

One of our very first as a couple was an Intellibed commercial:

Though we don't sing and dance we have been in two great music videos.  Ace Ender's, When I Hit the Ground video involved Bryan, Vicki, Briana and Alyse:

 

 

We also participated in the following video:  Finding our Cousins

 

 

 

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/find-our-cousins?lang=eng&cid=email-shared

 

We especially enjoy being involved in film projects that promote family values:

Our grandson, Cameron and his mother were involved in this Foundation for a Better Life Commercial:

 



 



 

http://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/127-Change-the-World

 

 



 

 

Doritos Always There Debate

Baby Blues

A love story

 

Bryan and I came from very different backgrounds.  He came from a church going family with six children.  His father was a bishop, (this is someone who has responsibility for a congregation of  Latter-day Saint members called a ward in a certain neighborhood or city), for the majority of his growing up years.  I came from an inactive family, (an inactive family consists of individuals who were once members of a Latter-day Saint ward, who have stopped attending church).  I was raised as only child as as my only sibling, Carol Jeanne, got married when I was two and a half.

Carol Jeanne and John Ehlers with Vicki

Bryan's family seldom went out to dinner and we went out to dinner at least three times a week.  My parents had a drink of alcohol with potato chips and dip at the end of the day and Bryan said he had potato chips on rare occasions.   Despite the differences in upbringing, we both enjoyed our childhoods. 

 

Bryan, center, with brothers Kirk and Kent

When I was around twelve years old, my sister shared a simple, but profound Christian doctrine, that changed my life forever.  It was that there are commandments authored by God, that if complied with, bring forth blessings or positive consequences to one's life.   She basically said,  "If you want to enjoy a certain blessing, you must keep the law upon which that blessing is predicated or based".  She gave me an example as she read to me the 58th chapter of Isaiah.  She explained that there were sixteen specific blessings promised to those who kept the Law of the Sabbath which included, but were not limited to, some of the following:  Verse 8:  "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily. . . "Verse 9:  "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am."  Verse 11:  "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not".  She told me that your light breaking forth as the morning meant that those who kept the Sabbath Day holy would be smarter and that several of these scriptures promised an increased ability to feel the guidance and influence of God in your life. 

Well, I was determined to see if these biblical assertions were valid.   I loved the thought of an unchangeable being who governed and blessed according to set laws, that he didn't capriciously bless and punish according to his whims of the moment.  I was just a student in middle school and I was an average student.  I decided to try to make my Sundays more holy and one thing I decided to avoid was doing homework on Sunday.  I also began fasting as this chapter suggested and paid tithes and offerings.  Much to my surprise, and the surprise of my fellow students, my grades improved dramatically.  At the end of the very next quarter I had made the high honor roll.  I didn't remember studying harder.  Not only did my grades improve, but I began to feel guided in some of my choices in life.   I recalled wondering if church attendance and affiliation were actually important to the Lord.  I decided to read the Book of Mormon at this point as my sister was an active Latter-day Saint and had a strong conviction of its truthfulness.  I knew one of two possibilities existed.  Either the Book of Mormon was of divine origin or it wasn't, because of the claims by Joseph Smith.  There was nothing in between.   I read this book from cover to cover and prayed to know if it was true.  As I prayed,  I had never felt so simultaneously large and small.  I felt a pulsating feeling of warmth and peace that I had not heretofore known.   I had an answer, one that I could never deny and then came a postscript, a tangible thought to my mind:  "And because it is true, you will attend church for the rest of your life."  That was the rub.  That was something that caused me great consternation.  I didn't have friends in my ward boundaries.   It seemed that I had two distinct peer groups:  Good youth with strong values who sat with their parents and those who sat by each other at church, but did things they shouldn't do the rest of the week.  I just didn't fit with either group.  I was the embodiment of pure awkwardness and as such was an easy target for teasing and taunting, the worst of the tormenters among youth who attended my very ward.  But, from that time forward, I went to church.  I felt lonely a lot of the time and began to pray that one day I would be able to attend church surrounded by my own family.  All I can say, is be careful what prayers you pray. 

Vicki, age 12, with her mother and five nephews

                                         

I continued to read and study scriptures, as well as reading every church book I could get my hands on.  I read the Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, the Doctrines of Salvation, Jesus the Christ, etc., etc., etc.   I got what is called a Patriarchal Blessing.  This is a blessing given by an ordained  male patriarch who through inspiration places his hands upon your head and rehearses information that is peculiar to you, including but not limited to, the tribe of Israel you descend from.  This blessing promised me, if I proved faithful, that I would marry, and that my husband would love me and sustain me in raising the "sons and daughters" reserved for our home.   It also stated I would be blessed in securing a good education.  I wanted to get that over with so I could go on to the "finding the right person to marry" course.  I went school year-round and found myself a senior at age 19.  I graduated when I was 20, but marriage wasn't for several years.  I dated and dated, and somewhat grew in confidence, but I found it hard to imagine actually falling in love with someone and having that person love you in return.   When I graduated from college receiving several scholastic honors, my mother's response was:  "This really surprises me, you weren't particularly bright as a child, even slow to walk and talk."  She was always very honest.  I simply attribute my scholastic success to my desires to keep the law of the Sabbath.  I determined to find and understand other gospel laws and blessings tied to those laws.   

 

 

Vicki, center, while a student at the University of Utah

One night, after a day of teaching middle school students, I felt exhausted and was just excited to relax at home, in peace and quiet.  I was a first year teacher and I had not mastered the art of discipline  But that voice, the one that I was beginning to recognize as distinct from my own thinking, had something else in mind.  I heard the words, "Go to Family Home Evening. The young man you are going to marry is there."   Family Home Evening is something that Latter-day Saints are encouraged to hold each Monday night.  It is a time to gather in uplifting activity or share a gospel lesson in an effort to strengthen families.  We are encouraged to reserve that night for this purpose.  Young adults, especially those in college and living away from home or in single's wards were divided into Family Home Evening groups by their ward leaders, so they can mingle with other single adults to maintain this tradition.   Though this was a random thought that seemed to come out of nowhere, I considered that I made it up.  I didn't care about meeting anyone new that night,  it was very cold outside and I was very tired.  Still, I couldn't be certain that this inspiration wasn't of the Lord, so I went.  When I arrived at our Family Home Evening activity, I met a sea of single women and one solitary young man, our Family Father who was assigned to lead this group in mingling, socializing and gospel study.  As he was the only young man in attendance, I thought to myself, "If this is an impression from the Lord, He certainly doesn't want me confused".  I suppose the rest is history.  I had met the man of my dreams that night.

Bryan, playing soccer

I think I dreamed of Bryan a few weeks prior.  I had dreamed of a blond haired young man brought me home from a date and hugged me good night at the door.  In the dream, I had an amazing realization.  It was the hug that I never wanted to end.  In my dream, I looked over his shoulder and saw the most beautiful array of stars in the sky above us.  Suddenly, the stars rearranged themselves forming three words: "Heaven is pleased."  That dream gave me hope that someday I would meet a young man and that heaven would approve of this match.  Thirty seven years later, we are still companions, but oh!  What a journey.   We began a family unit on December 11, 1976.

Bryan and Vick's Wedding Announcement

Our willingness to consider that there is a plan for individuals and believing in the omniscience of God, has brought us to consider things we would never have considered.   God knew that I needed both the blessings and trials that would be ours throughout our marriage.  One of those things had to do with our having a baby in our old age.  Had our youngest been born near her due date of January 7th, we would have had children in four different decades!  However, she came early on December 21st thus we only had children in 3 decades.   One of my favorite articles about the role of foreordination, agency and discipleship was written by Neal A. Maxwell, entitled "A More Determined Discipleship":  https://www.lds.org/ensign/1979/02/a-more-determined-discipleship?lang=eng . This blog is about a husband an wife, their ten children and how a very ordinary  and imperfect Mormon family attempts to live consecrated lives in a modern world.

 

 

Bryan and Vicki with their ten children on daughter Kristin's wedding day

  

 

Shanelle and Craig Stark Family

 

Daughters, Audrie, Rochelle and Briana

 

 

 

Son, Brett, serves in the JAG Corp.

 

 

Richard and Maddi's wedding day

 

 

Briana and Drew Petersen

 

Audrie and Alyse are the blondes in this photo.

 

 

Richard arriving from his mission to Brazil

 

Rochelle in midair

 

Family Members on set for "The Birth"

Jeanette was pregnant at this time

 

 

The real birth of Alice Joy 

 

 

Rochelle and Taylor Oborn

 

 

Jeanette and David Pulley and Family

 

Corinne returning from her mission to Brazil