Upon Elijah’s arrival he finds the Widow gathering sticks for her family’s last meal, at this stage she expects to die of starvation shortly after, Elijah tells the unnamed Widow not to to fear, but to care for his needs first and then to care for her self and family.

In this moment of desperation the Unnamed Widow acted with such faith by choosing to feed Elijah with such small amount of food,  little is taught about this magnificent women her example of faith was repaid tenfold.

I’m grateful to see these same examples of Motherhood in my life, at Church I have been witness to some inspirational women who have demonstrated great levels of faith in moments of despair.  My very own mother has been a beautiful example to me she raised 3 children as a single mother and is now facing doing the same again with my youngest sister and whilst she struggles her faith is humbling. My mother whilst probably never becoming a RS president or speaking at Stake Conference, she is not your typical “sister”  but if my future daughter could be blessed to have the heart my mother has I would be so grateful and honourd.

In recent years as I have gotten more involved in Mormon Studies, I have enjoyed it so much there are moments that have given me such insight and spiritual strength, I have gained knowledge and made personal decisions that has been invaluable.

However there are occasions whilst studying some of the historical accounts of the past I’m shunted into a spiral of crisis, I think the reason that I take it so badly is that growing up I developed an Idealistic view of the Church additionally during my Mission I had more of a judgemental attitude towards other religious institutions,  I quickly realise that the type of rational arguments   I used against other faiths we are equally guilty of.

This hypocrisy damages me the most,  as I read post on differing sites I’m initially sceptical of anything that puts the church in a poor light, sadly as I look into the issue further I find it to contain truth (sometimes the interpretation of the motive is off).

I find on so many times I’m tossed to & fro by every whisper of negative historical events,  I’m quickly uplifted and hold on to the little ray of hope provided by others who suggest all might not be what it seems only to find that the answers give me more questions and are more unsettling.

http://songsbyshawna.com/Site/Home_files/03%20Do%20You%20Have%20Room_.mp3

I love this time of year, and I feel the right type of music really helps me centre my thoughts and feelings.

However recently I have recognised that my doubts have had a prioritising effect on me, I was recently talking with a friend who had a severe crisis of faith, however he still held to key values (love & respect your family, work hard, and help others) this helped me to realise that if you remove all the “White Noise” from my life, whom am I really ? What have I done that is good in the world? Do I need to do good?

What if God does not exist, what if all this is false, what if the spiritual feelings I have are purely physiological, what if there is no after life ?

what do I want from life, The Church emphasises these same three values, but can I get lost preparing for the next world at the expense of this life,  We can be kept very busy in the church with Callings, Home Teaching, Family History, Temple Work, Missionary Efforts, etc etc  all of which are good things and can help people but are we  missing the point.  Whilst we have people suffering of hunger thirst and fatigue, whilst there are children neglected, whilst there are people dying ! are our priorities correct?

Whether God exist or not surely  our highest priority should be to focus our efforts on helping those in need,  many times we are willing to give someone a sermon rather than bread & water,  I believe in God, I believe Christ leads the LDS Church however because of my doubts I’m reassessing my priorities,  am I ignoring those who are hungry, naked, and suffering because I’m busy doing my temple file ?

I will develop my thoughts on Warren Buffett further, but first here are a few quotes that I thought were very insightful.

Avoid being in debt “Smart people should not need credit and stupid people should not be given it”

Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.

Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.

You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong.

If you’re in the luckiest 1 per cent of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99 per cent.

Take me as an example. I happen to have a talent for allocating capital. But my ability to use that talent is completely dependent on the society I was born into. If I’d been born into a tribe of hunters, this talent of mine would be pretty worthless. I can’t run very fast. I’m not particularly strong. I’d probably end up as some wild animal’s dinner.

I am a Christian, I have grown and developed within the LDS Church. I believe Christ leads the Church through our Prophets & Apostles.  I believe in Personal Revelation, God has guided me through direct communication, suggestions, ideas, thoughts and personal insight however I feel that God mostly allows me to establish my own line of thinking through previous experience and reason.

I’m not the most eloquent of writers, many times my thoughts and opinions are not well developed, perhaps short-sighted, ignorant or even just plan stupid. I do my best and feel every one has the right to freedom of speech.

I’m not the most liberal of people, I would perhaps establish my political views as a compassionate conservative, somewhere in between  both democrat & republican again not very black & white.

My blogs will consist of articles of a spiritual – historical nature  and perhaps the many many  rhetorical questions of MR Q&A