by Judy Rix... I like the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Making or buying gifts for loved ones is so much fun. But when it comes to shopping for my husband, the man who has everything and needs nothing, every year I'm stumped. Do you ever have that problem when shopping for your nearest and dearest, whether it be a spouse or parent or child? What would you give to the Christ child? I believe that the greatest gift we can give to another is through the love in our he

by Judy Rix... When life's storms challenge your very foundation, what anchors you? How do you safeguard your testimony of Jesus Christ against the inevitable trials and temptations that shake your faith? Just as you prepare an emergency plan for your home and family, it's essential to have one for your own soul. My grandson shared this experience which expands this idea: "During our family vacation in Hawaii, my two younger siblings built a sandcastle on the beach. Despite i

As the morning sunlight streams through my window, it illuminates the room, brings a smile to my face

by Judy Rix... When I was a teenager, I bought my first car—an old classic Karman Ghia. Despite its well - worn appearance with every inch dented, a missing side window, and a non - functional reverse gear, it was an incredible deal at just $200. I was thrilled to have my very own car! I had always been eager to explore the dirt roads in the mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah. As I set out on my first solo adventure, I considered bringing along a map. (No GPS in those days.)

by John Rix... Enjoy this enlightening post by guest blogger John Rix, my husband of 56 years. He exemplifies the qualities of Jesus Christ more than anyone I know. As an expert in being a good husband, his suggestions are invaluable. He shares seven rules for a happy marriage. (1) Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. • If she wants the toilet seat down, put it down. It takes .737 seconds. • If he wants you to squeeze the toothpaste from the end, not the middle, do it. • On the other

by Judy Rix... Don't you love autumn? Cool crisp weather, falling leaves, and most important, football season! Our family is among the millions who love to watch professional football at the stadium or on TV. Have you ever noticed the striking parallels between football and life? While watching a game on TV recently, I noted some of the phrases mentioned by the commentators. Let's explore how those phrases apply to the even more significant game of life where you and I conte

by Judy Rix... Like many of you, Monday nights at our house are reserved for Family Home Evening. When our children were growing up, my husband and I would gather them together for a couple of hours of fun, learning, and togetherness. More often than not, it turned into Family Home Chaos. Sometimes we shared a brief story from the scriptures and discussed how to incorporate those important principles into our lives. The older children readily grasped the concepts, sparking a

By Judy Rix... When I was 18, I worked as a secretary in an insurance office. My boss often dictated letters which I rec orded in sh orthand. (OK. So it was a long time ago.) Typically he would end those letters with "Thanking you in advance," which I thought was rather cheesy. However, this cheesy phrase is actually a great method for praying with a positive mindset. By thanking God in advance, we're showing that we truly believe He will hear and answer our prayers. There's

By Judy Rix... Note: Before you read this chapter, please read "Post 9 -- Seven Ways to Make Your Home a Heaven on Earth." -- Emulating the character traits of Jesus Christ is the way we become like Him. We're all on an eternal journey towards that goal, and none of us is there -- yet. No one has a perfectly heavenly home or a perfect family -- yet. So be kind with yourself and others as you progress in that direction day by day. -- Family life is the ideal training ground

By Judy Rix... Note: Before you read this chapter, please read "Post 9 -- Seven Ways to Make Your Home a Heaven on Earth." Prioritizing a "Heaven on Earth" home builds a strong spiritual foundation for your family. It invites divine influences and fulfills God's eternal plan despite the challenges of the world and the adversary. When all family members work intentionally to make your heavenly home a priority, it becomes "a place of refuge where peace and serenity prevail, a p

By Judy Rix... Note: Before you read this chapter, please read "Post 9 -- Seven Ways to Make Your Home a Heaven on Earth." The Savior often visited special places throughout His mortal life -- the mountaintop, the garden, the Sea of Galilee. The setting was integral to His purpose. You can create special places in your own heaven on earth. Whether your home is large or small, something as simple as dedicating a certain time in a particular chair sets the stage for meaningful

By Judy Rix... Note: Before you read this chapter, please read "Post 9 -- Seven Ways to Make Your Home a Heaven on Earth." A house is just a house, but loving interaction of its occupants transforms it into a home. As queen or king of your own castle, you have a powerful influence in making your family feel like royalty. When parents remain calm, positive, and faithful amid life's challenges, children learn to tackle inevitable hurdles with assurance. They learn the Savior's

By Judy Rix... Note: Before you read this chapter, please read "Post 9 -- Seven Ways to Make Your Home a Heaven on Earth." Nature offers massive benefits to our emotional, mental, and physical well being. It improves mood, reduces stress, promotes better sleep, boosts the immune system, accelerates recovery from illness, and increases energy levels, just to mention a few. Isn't that exactly what you want for your family? While we can't always be outside, you can find ways to

By Judy Rix... Note: Before you read this chapter, please read "Post 9 -- Seven Ways to Make Your Home a Heaven on Earth." We experience the world through our five senses. Use all of them -- smell, sound, taste, sight, and touch -- to make your home a wonderful place to live. Try out a couple of these suggestions. Smell -- Bake some bread or cinnamon rolls. The aroma instantly creates a sense of well-being and contentment. -- Impact your mood with scented candles, vanilla

By Judy Rix... Note: Before you read this chapter, please read "Post 9 -- Seven Ways to Make Your Home a Heaven on Earth." Where Is Your Happy Place? For me, the holy temple is the perfect model for creating a place where God's spirit can reside. I want my home to be just as full of beauty, joy, peace, and light as I feel when I'm in the temple. By light, I refer not only to the radiant glow of sunshine, but also to the radiant light of God (D&C 50:24). San Diego Temple, The

By Judy Rix... “Deep inside each of us is a need to have a home of refuge where peace and serenity prevail, a place where we can reset, regroup, and reenergize to prepare for future pressures. The ideal place is within the walls of our own homes, where we have done all we can to make the Lord Jesus Christ the centerpiece.” ... Elder Richard G. Scott ____ My husband and I used to watch a favorite TV show brimming with suspense, murder, and intrigue. Following that, we'd tune i

By Judy Rix... One of the Savior's many exemplary attributes was the wise use of His agency. He chose to forgive even when the transgressor didn't request it. He chose to do good even when it wasn't appreciated. When you're offering help and it's either misunderstood or not appreciated, do you ever feel like no good deed goes unpunished? A friend was about to make what appeared to me to be a bad choice. Out of love and concern, I was wondering what I might do to help. While

By Judy Rix... While Christ was on the earth, His one and only focus was to do His Father's will. Another way of saying this is that His eye was single to God . By emulating Christ's example, we also can draw nearer to our Heavenly Father by having our eye single (focused) to His glory. D&C 88:67 is one of my favorite "If/Then" scriptures: "IF  your eye be single to God,  [THEN]  your whole bodies [physical and spiritual] shall be filled with light and there shall be no dark

By Judy Rix... Humorists say, "Mistakes make you wiser, which basically makes me a genius!" In our fallen human condition, we "geniuses" all make mistakes daily. "We all drift from time to time," says Deiter Uch tdorf , "but we can get back on course. We can navigate our way through the darkness and trials of this life and find our way back to our loving Heavenly Father if we seek, accept, and follow the spiritual landmarks He has provided. Learn to embrace personal revel

By Judy Rix... If you had to rank Jesus' attributes in terms of importance, obedience would be high on the list because so much hinges on it. Our eternal progression occurs step by step through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Is obedience always easy? Hardly! Even Christ himself asked, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou will." Matthew 26:39 . And again, "Though He were a Son, yet learned He