MandiLee Designs (2026)

03/04/2021

Waiting on the Lord
By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

I guess this was something I needed to learn from October General conference. I needed to be reminded to trust and wait on the Lord. I shared some of my thoughts about that in the last post on Elder Jaggi’s talk. I think that was why I felt I needed to study patience after hearing and reading Elder Whiting’s talk. They were, and are, teaching me and preparing me.

The last 3 months have been a struggle for me as I try to understand and find my place in a new role. As I have prayed, cried, and pled to know what I am supposed to be doing, time and time again, I get the feeling to “wait”, to "stand still”.

I already feel like I am doing that. I already feel stuck. I want to be doing, to be acting, to be solving problems, to be teaching, to be sharing, to be needed. My promptings are not telling me to avoid any of those. My promptings are telling me to wait on the Lord, to trust Him AND His timing. So hard.

Elder Holland states, “Christianity is comforting, but it is often not comfortable.” I feel this. Sundays are the hardest days for me. Sundays are the days that emphasize all that I am struggling with. My loneliness, my hurts, my heartache, my pride. But I do find comfort in the sacrament, and in my daily time with scriptures and prayer. I do find myself echoing the words of Joseph Smith, “How long, O Lord, how long?” and looking to the example of Emma Smith who trusted, waited, and supported.

“Let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.” D&C 101:16

03/04/2021

Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work, and Count it All Joy!
By Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi

If I had to pick one talk from conference that was favorite (and that is a hard thing to do) it would probably be this one.

We are, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, pretty familiar with James1:5. It is an essential part of our history and the restoration story. Because it is, I think we often skim over the proceeding verses. In James 1: 2-4 we read:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers *temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

*translated to 'afflictions' in the JST

What?! We are supposed to count it joy when we have afflictions?

In my study of the attribute of patience, I took some time with these verses. My take away was that how we respond to our trials is what brings joy (or sorrow).

Do we trust in the Savior to heal, to bring peace, to provide hope and understanding? Do we trust that He will work all things to our good? He will do the work, he will provide. We just have to trust and have patience. So much easier said than done for me.

Having patience and trust is saying. “Lord, I don’t see how any good can come from what I am going through, but I do believe you can see it. This is hard and I would rather not face it, but I trust you and I will wait on you.”

As we face our afflictions with patience and faith, the Lord refines us and we are brought closer to Him. This is truly a reason to “count it all joy”.

Now I think we all need t-shirts, like Elder Jaggi’s family, that remind us to do just that.

02/04/2021

Let God Prevail
by President Russell M. Nelson

“When your greatest desire is to let God prevail, to be part of Israel, so many decisions become easier.”

I am curious, have you found this to be a true statement in your life? How? Please share.

01/04/2021

Embrace the Future with Faith
by President Russell M. Nelson

I love lists and I love being prepared, so this talk was a favorite because it gave me a list to prepare for the future with faith.

The 3 takeaways for me were (in list form, of course):
My home needs to be a place of security. This means my home needs to be a place where I and my family can feel and follow the Holy Ghost.

My faith is continually growing as I exercise faith in Christ. Everytime. Just like exercise, it is not one workout that matters. It is all the workouts, building on each other, that make a difference.

Keep going. Don’t just endure, but embrace the future with faith.

30/03/2021

God Will do Something Unimaginable
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

This talk reminded me of a book called “Weakness is Not Sin” by Wendy Ulrich. Both the talk and the book remind us that God, if we allow Him, can turn our weaknesses into our strengths. There is a purpose to our weaknesses and that purpose is not to make us despair and give up. Our weaknesses allow us opportunities to be humble, to rely on the Lord, and to grow.
I cannot choose my weaknesses (that is an interesting thought experiment. If you could choose your weaknesses, and you had to, which ones would you choose? Honestly, I think I would stick with what I have, at least I am familiar with them). What I can choose is how I face them and how I react to them. I can choose to focus on my strengths. I can choose to do things, such as prayer, scripture study, and keeping covenants, which allow me the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is exceptional at helping us know how and even when to work on weaknesses. He is also really great at reminding us that Christ is always willing and waiting to help.
We do not have to do this learning and growing and changing alone. In fact, we cannot do it alone. That is one of my weaknesses, trying to prove I am capable and can do it myself (whatever “it” is). I am often reminded through scripture and by the Holy Ghost to “stop and stand still” (D&C 5:34). I need to wait on the Lord instead of charging ahead. I need to allow the Lord room and time to work in my life instead of filling it with things I think I need.

25/03/2021

Hearts Knit in Unity
by Elder Quentin L. Cook

I really appreciated this statement from Elder Cook,
“As leaders, we are not under the illusion that in the past all relationships were perfect, all conduct was Christlike, or all decisions were just. However, our faith teaches that we are all children of our Father in Heaven, and we worship Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, who is our Savior. Our desire is that our hearts and minds will be knit in righteousness and unity and that we will be one with Them.”

We are all trying. Be understanding. Be willing to help and guide. Be willing to repent. Be kind. Be righteous. Be one.

23/03/2021

I have shared this talk already, but I just wanted to share it again as we prepare for general conference in a few weeks. One of my favorite parts is at the end when Elder Bednar quotes Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. When asked to share with students one thing, Elder Holland taught them that they cannot tread water. If you tread water, you will be carried with the current and that will not do. We have to make choices and have to act on them. Not making a choice is a choice. We have a sign up if our kitchen right now that says, “What you are not changing, you are choosing.” Choose Christ and be all in.

18/01/2021

I recently learned that government offices were originally closed on MLK Day so that government officials and employees could engage in acts of service.

"Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. " Americorps.gov

It has become just another day off, a long weekend.

I encourage you to use it for its intended purpose. Give service today. Give mercy. Give understanding. Give love.

14/12/2020

Just a few more days of my Book of Mormon margin art sale on Etsy. All single verse designs will be retired after this sale. Get them now for 25% off.
Link in bio.

03/12/2020

How many times have you heard it the last 6 months? “If everyone would just be more Christ-like, it would solve so many of the issues we face.” While this is a true statement, it is one of those “solutions” that are so freely offered without actually offering a solution that we can personally put into action. That is why I loved listening to and studying Elder Scott D. Whiting’s address, Becoming Like Him, during this October’s conference.

Elder Whiting was offering the same solution, but he was also guiding us to identify what is is that we need to do personally to become more Christ-like.

As I read through his talk, I came up with a to do list for how I can begin to work on personally becoming more Christlike.

If you would like to read my list and get a "beautified" Attributes of Christ worksheet for free, visit by blog. Link in bio.

27/11/2020

"We can feel joy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!" -President Russell M. Nelson

Yes, I am grateful for 2020
There were so many plans that had to be canceled or postponed this year.
A trip back to Italy that I have been waiting 20 years for.
A 4th grader's National Park adventure.
Trips to visit family and the beach.
6th grade graduation.
Countless activities and get togethers.
But in the last 7 days I have highlighted, for you, but mostly for myself, the good that has come to me in 2020.
Some of these things would have eventually come to pass, but a pandemic put us in a place and state mind to make them happen now. Some of these things never would have happened without the pandemic, and it makes me sad to think of the beauty and joy I would have missed.
The greatest blessing of 2020 has been one I cannot put into a picture. My relationship with my Father in Heaven and my Savior. I have grown (and struggled through growing pains) in so many ways this year. I give thanks for that.

MandiLee Designs

03/04/2021

03/04/2021

02/04/2021

01/04/2021

30/03/2021

25/03/2021

23/03/2021

18/01/2021

14/12/2020

03/12/2020

27/11/2020

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share