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Lynnette Sheppard

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All About Me· Letters· Motherhood· Parenting

I have always been a writer. When I was in third grade, I wrote a story and won third place…
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Hi! I’m Lynnette. Welcome to my little corner of the Internet, where I help Latter-day Saint women stand firm in their faith and share their light. I'm so glad you're here!

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They thought a bullet would eliminate a budding ne

They thought a bullet would eliminate a budding new religion.

By getting rid of the prophet, the angry mobs hoped his followers would then abandon their faith.

But that is not what happened.

From humble beginnings speckled with mob violence, orders of extermination written by government officials, and a 1200 mile trek west to find peace, the Church has grown from a congregation of six to more than 16.8 million members worldwide.

It continues to go forth, as the martyred Joseph prophecied, “boldly, nobly, and independent.”

I will never forget the feeling of standing in Carthage Jail, looking at the bullet hole in the door through which the prophet was slain.

It is as sacred a place as any upon which I have stood.

The Church did not dissolve there as predicted by its enemies.

There, in those hallowed walls, its truth was cemented into the hearts of millions of believers who have lived in the years since.

And today, as we commemorate that ill-fated day 178 years ago, my heart overflows with gratitude for the sacrifices of those who came before. They endured violence, persecution, and, for some, a martyr’s death at the hands of angry men.

But, from the ashes, truth endured.

And today, it continues to move forward, and will gain momentum until it has “penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

I sing my praises to the congregation of six from which this miracle began, and to all the men and women whose courage and faith fan the flame of my faith today.

All is well. All is well.

Yesterday, I celebrated 45 years of life on this e

Yesterday, I celebrated 45 years of life on this earth by waking 20,000 steps around NYC with my favorite person.

Also, by getting sung to by the people in Krispy Kreme at Times Square. (Who told them it was my birthday?!?)

Hugh Jackman on Broadway was an added bonus that did not disappoint!

I have learned a thing or two in 45 years, including:

1. Life is too short to be fake

2. Vulnerability is the key to connection

3. You can’t hide from God

4. Willingly sparring with Satan doesn’t turn out well

5. Sunshine and fresh air are instant mood boosters

6. Accepting the things you cannot change is liberating (hello, size 12 feet!!)

7. Sometimes, you just gotta splurge! (Especially on shoes for size 12 feet!)

8. Nobody has it all together

9. Having friends who think differently brings balance and understanding to life

10. Some things will never be relative, no matter how many people say it is so

11. Life is to be ENJOYED, not just endured!

I may be on the cusp of 50, but I don’t want to go back!! The wisdom that has come from experience is priceless!!

Do you agree?

Do you ever feel hopeless? A victim to your circu

I have been off the grid for the past few days at

I have been off the grid for the past few days at our stake Pioneer Trek.

I went with my husband and two youngest kids and came home with 11 bonus kids.

I am beyond exhausted, may never get our clothes clean again (those whites have been through 3 steam cycles and are STILL not clean), and have a red, swollen foot from a fall.

But the overall experience was among the best of my life.

I witnessed miracles.

I saw hearts changed within 24 hours.

I saw leaders emerge and SHINE.

I watched a timid, anxious girl who was crying before we ever touched a handcart morph into a young woman who was literally GLOWING with happiness and confidence when she went home.

The Lord’s hand was in it all.

And, though I have much still to process, this much I know:

These youth are INCREDIBLE!

We need to stop worrying about them and start trusting them.

They can do HARD things.

They WILL rise to the challenges of this crazy time if we start treating them as capable.

The future is in their hands and, after this week, I will confidently follow them.

The words of a hymn perfectly describe what I am feeling:

“As Zion’s youth in latter days, triumphant, pure, and strong.”

It’s official! Our home is now a branch of the M

It’s official! Our home is now a branch of the MTC.

We have the newly set apart Sister Sheppard at home until she flies to Provo next week.

And then, she will be headed to Washington for 18 months.

So many emotions are my partners right now, but the biggest one is JOY!

We have done this twice before, and I KNOW this experience will bless her life in so many ways.

I can’t wait to have a front row seat to watch the Lord work wonders for and through her.

P.S. We have never done home MTC before. Both of my boys were in Provo from day one. For all you veterans out there, what are your best tips for making the experience meaningful?

The wounds are still fresh from a life lost much t

The wounds are still fresh from a life lost much too early.

9 years on earth is not long enough.

And now, my heart grieves with yours for the loss of 19 kids and 2 teachers.

I know prayers don’t generally bring back those who are gone or stay the hand of one determined to execute violence.

But they do bring peace amid heart-wrenching pain.

They do cause me to pause, look up, and remember there is more to the picture than what I can see.

They do bind my heart to the One who is mighty to save.

So I pray.

I have faith that somehow, someday all will be made right because of Him.

And, in a world of heartbreak and tragedy, that faith gives me hope for a million better tomorrows.

Last year, I was drowning in a sea of overwhelm.

Personal challenges, compounding responsibilities, and family hardship amid a CRAZY tumultuous world felt like too much.

I was terrified of dropping ALL the balls and letting everyone down.

Then, I discovered and implemented the Fundies, and they changed EVERYTHING for me. My overwhelm disappeared and I felt equal to the challenges in my life, though they continued to compound.

On their own, each Fundie seems simple, and it is.

But the compound effect of all eight of them is nothing short of MIRACULOUS.

Over the next few weeks, I will be giving a crash course in the Fundies on my podcast.

If you want to feel more grounded, steadier, and better able to navigate the challenges in your life, no matter what comes, this is LIFE-CHANGING information.

For me, getting the Fundies in order also GREATLY increased my ability to SHOW UP for the Lord.

Last week, we dove into food, and how to eat for optimum health (Hint: no counting calories, macros, or any other math involved. I hate math.) We also talked about how what we eat affects our spirits, and what our prophet (a surgeon!) has to say about food.

Tomorrow's new episode will cover sleep and movement, two MASSIVE players in overall well-being.

If you want to learn how to implement ALL The Fundies (because they are all connected), don't forget to hit the subscribe button on your podcast app so you don't miss a thing.

And feel free to leave a review while you're at it!! Thanks in advance!

Which Fundie are you AWESOME at? And which one do you feel you need to uplevel?

Today I sat in awe as my daughter spoke with confi

Today I sat in awe as my daughter spoke with confidence and poise at her missionary farewell.

I have been immersed in the study of light for many months.

Today, as tender mercies go, my daughter chose to speak about sharing light.

She said: “The Savior sacrificed everything for us, and because of this display of love, we have access to the plan of happiness. This love is how we can access [His] light. I want so badly to have that light in my countenance - to shine with it.

Through strengthening my relationship with my Savior and Father in Heaven, I know I can receive that light.”

And really, it’s as simple as that.

Strengthen my relationship with Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son ➡️ Have greater access to their light and their power ➡️ Become SHINY ✨

Because of Him, SHINY can be part of our eternal identity.

I want nothing more than to shine like @elisesheppardd

Washington is getting a good one!

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