The Power of Friendship

I just finished reading an essay, "To Nurture and Be Nurtured:The Friendships of Eliza R. Snow" by Jill Mulvay Derr.  I love being able to relate to older generations and that is exactly what this article helped me to feel.

The author travels through a handful of friendships from Eliza's youth to her old age and then concludes "Thus, Eliza R. Snow's monumental achievements were not hers alone.  The women who traveled with her, talked and wrote to her, prayed for her, and bore with her, significantly strengthened her capacity as friend, teacher, and leader."

Eliza herself said "We know the Lord's laid high responsibility upon us...and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities."  Jill Mulvay Derr points out the beautiful cycle which occurs when  helping our sisters to refine and cultivate everything good and ennobling, they then in turn bless and enrich other lives.

Here are my loyal friends who bring me joy, enrich my life and support me - Annette, Jaime, and Tracy.

The Importance of History

I came upon a scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants a while ago that I found very interesting. Section 93:53. "And verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you...obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man..."

This verse convinced me to open up a book and read about George Washington in February.

In March I read the novel "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" which ended up being very educational about World War II. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it convinced me of the importance of keeping my home well stocked with toiletries.

Becoming politically involved

After I finished my book on Frederick Douglass, I decided to continue my education of African American history. I then began reading a book about Rosa Parks. What kept on grabbing my attention in both books was the continuous mention of their attendance and participation in meetings, conventions and workshops. Fredrick never stopped speaking about how to overcome slavery, and when he wasn't speaking, he was publishing pertaining to the same topic. Rosa joined the NAACP and became the secretary in her local chapter. The topic in her time was how to overcome discrimination. Of course I believe these are crucial causes, but I was puzzled at these two spending all their free moments on the same topic over and over again.

Finally I got! There is power in numbers and there is magic in persistence. Frederick Douglass was so passionate, that he was able to help America see what was right. He became President Abraham Lincoln's personal advisor in matters of slavery and its abolition. After the war was over Frederick continued for the rest of his life to give lectures and writings about the issues of civil rights. His words pricked the conscience of his audience and caused them to swell with hope for the future.

Rosa Parks was a quiet humble woman, who was hard working and strong. She went out searching for the answers to the problems of her people. It was her regular participation in meetings that prepared for her courageous stand. Rosa was the first black woman to say "no" to the bus driver (who was a horrible man) when he told her to get up and stand in the back of the bus because there were no seats left for the white passenger who had just stepped on. How humiliating. And she said to herself, "the more we give in and comply, the worse they treat us." Rosa said she suddenly felt the "strength of her ancestors with her".

This incident set the modern Civil Rights Movement into motion. Rosa was arrested and assigned a day in court. The jury found her guilty and the NAACP sponsored her case as she appealed it all the way to the Supreme Court. The process took over a year, during which time the entire black community in the city of Montgomery, Alabama carried out a bus boycott. They car pooled, hired taxis, but mostly they walked to and from work every day.

So now I see how I can apply the prophet's council, to become politically engaged in my community. I need to listen to my heart and decide what I feel passionate about. Once I join a group, I can help brainstorm for solutions and help educate those around me about the issues dear to my soul.

Black History Month

I have decided to take advantage of February being Black
History Month, and teach my boys more about the African American experience. I have started with studying about Frederick Douglass, a man born into slavery who fought bravely for freedom through his words. I am reading from a Sterling biography, which is excellent, and I mention this because I would highly recommend adding some of their books to your collection.

So far I am only on page 41, with 119 pages in total, but I wanted to share a tender moment from his childhood that I was touched by.

It was customary in slave culture for the mothers to give their children to their mothers to raise in order for the women to continue working after giving birth. So Frederick was raised by his grandmother and lead quite a sheltered life until at the age of six, his grandma walked through the woods with him for twelve miles and brought him to a large plantation home. It was the master's home and near by were slaves quarters, cabins with other children, whom several of them Fredrick learned were his brothers and sisters. Frederick was shy and once he realized that his grandmother had slipped away back into the woods to leave him there, he cried all day and all night. Slave children were given a large shirt that went down to their knees with no pants and no shoes. There were no beds, only the hard woods floors to sleep on and a coarse blanket.

That is the background so you can understand the part of the story I really wanted to share.

It was at this stage in Frederick's life that he learned who his mother was, but she did not live in the same location as him. His mother was assigned to work on a farm which was another twelve miles away. She only was able to visit him five or six times over a couple years time. This was because she had to walk the twelve miles in the dark after she had finished her work, and then walk back in time to begin work the next day.

There was a mean slave woman in charge of the children and one day she spitefully decided not to give Frederick any food. This happened to occur on a day when his mother came to see him. His mother told the woman off and then used her kitchen to make him a ginger cake in the shape of a heart. Frederick then fell asleep in her arms and when he awoke, she was gone. That was the last time Frederick ever saw his mother because she passed away within the next year.

I think making that cake in the shape of a heart is the sweetest thing I have heard in a long time. I am so grateful to be able to raise my children.