Small Seed

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Podcast Launch Giveaway: Get the Scoop + Enter!

Podcast Launch Giveaway: Get the Scoop + Enter!

Small Seed Radio Podcast—It’s Launch Day!

Small Seed Radio Podcast—It’s Launch Day!

“Be still, and know that I am God”: Trusting the Spring Blossoms of Life Will Come

“Be still, and know that I am God”: Trusting the Spring Blossoms of Life Will Come

How Can Lent Reawaken You?

How Can Lent Reawaken You?

How Does Heavenly Father Feel About Me? A Family Lesson for Valentine's Day

How Does Heavenly Father Feel About Me? A Family Lesson for Valentine's Day

Building with God: “Come, Follow Me” for Single Moms

Building with God: “Come, Follow Me” for Single Moms

How to Create an Environment of Gospel Learning in the Home

How to Create an Environment of Gospel Learning in the Home

Home

Gift from God

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Simple Gifts

Finding Peace Through Christ in the Holy Land

Finding Peace Through Christ in the Holy Land

2018 *Meaningful* Gift Guide

2018 *Meaningful* Gift Guide

Choosing Hope

3 Creative Ways to Use Our “Names of Christ” Advent

3 Creative Ways to Use Our “Names of Christ” Advent

Hope in Good Things to Come

Hope in Good Things to Come

More Thinking

Trust God

How I Started a Scripture Study Group (Even Though I'm Shy)

How I Started a Scripture Study Group (Even Though I'm Shy)

Deeply Rooted

Follow us @thesmallseed on Instagram

“May God give you a sense of what He is up to in your life. May you see glimpses of the breakthrough that is just up ahead. May you, with all your heart, believe that trusting Him over what your eyes see, is totally and completely worth it. May you shift your weight off of your logical reasonings and onto the weightiness of His powerful promises to you. You have got help and resources that go far beyond anything you could ever need. Smile with joy and walk by faith today. He has got you.” — Susie Larson

We hope as you’ve pondered “purpose” this week with us that you remember one thing. That no matter what he’s calling you to right now, with His help you can do it. Trust in Him. Rely on Him. Then do your best in whatever He’s asked, and let Him do the rest. If He’s called you to it, He’s in it with you.

As you ponder your personal purpose this weekend, we invite you to consider these thoughts shared by Ana De Agostini: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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"To qualify for and help others attain the blessings of eternal life is our purpose... Can we think of a purpose that is more ambitious, more glorious than that?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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"Charity is when we're doing everything we can to help ourselves and others obtain eternal life. To reach our full potential and purpose in this life, we must know God and Jesus Christ, and we must be more like Jesus Christ.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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"When we humbly ask for Heavenly Father to help us know what to do for one person at one time and then [act] on it, we are becoming more like Him. We are then developing our true identity." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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How has service illuminated your personal purpose? Who is God leading you to serve today?

Why are you here on earth at this particular time? For example, have you been asked to shepherd strong-willed spirits and build them into talented, faithful men and women? Have you been asked to learn to distinguish good from evil and to bravely speak up against practices which support the adversary’s agenda? Or have you been asked to sacrifice in a particular way for the mission of another? Or have you been sent to live in a troubled family situation in order to increase the purity in that lineage by putting a stop, once and for all, to various impurities? Or have you been sent to teach with clarity and charity eternal truths which will help the women of the world and their families? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What is your part in helping the Savior with His mission, which is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-- Wendy Watson Nelson

We all want to feel like we matter and have a purpose in building God’s kingdom. Sometimes, though, confusion and self-doubt can waltz in and take a seat. Am I really needed? we wonder. Can I really do this?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We know what confusion, overwhelm, and plain self-doubt feels like, friends. Last year we created a guide to help us understand Christ's personal mission in order to understand our own personal missions.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Use this FREE four-week study guide to help you find clarity and confidence as you understand how your purpose can be an extension of Christ's purpose.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Click the link in our bio to download for FREE!___⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We love you and we are cheering you on!

“Our Heavenly Father is intimately involved in the doors that open for us and in the circumstances that lead us to the places we should be—the places where we are equipped, with power, to serve. Have faith that your unseen Navigator will lead you gradually to your life’s calling. ...When it comes to asking what our calling in life is, Jesus Christ is in the answer. The grace of Christ, that same power that helps us do things we otherwise couldn’t, is what will guide us to our callings and enable us to excel in them. You can call upon the grace of Christ to help you... In fact, He pleads with us to do so.” Jeffrey A. Thompson

Are you, like me, wondering what is your purpose in life? Your calling, your “WHY”, your unique mission? I’ve been thinking about how each of us have our own distinct gifts and talents and yet sometimes it can feel overwhelming to figure out the “right” thing we are supposed to do with them in life. Maybe the answer is thinking less about ourselves and more about others. What if our purpose was to help God with his purposes? I know that if we can turn our will over to Him, He can bring us to higher and more meaningful places then we ever could travel alone. I feel anchored in the knowledge that my ultimate purpose can be to help with God’s work, helping His sons and daughters, and that with Christ I don’t have to do so alone. (From team member @stephanielonasmonroe )

“You are doing God’s work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you and He will bless you, even—no, especially—when your days and your nights may be the most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master’s garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and sometimes weep over their responsibility as mothers, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.’ And it will make your children whole as well.” -Jeffrey R. Holland
Oh you good Mothers. We’re praying today that you feel, that you know, that the sacrifices you make in faith are enough! We’re praying that you feel how good you are. How loved you are. That the world, and your children’s worlds, wouldn’t be the same—wouldn’t BE!—without YOU.
Watching you all mother and teach faith day after day inspires us again and again. Happy Mother’s Day, from all of us to you 💛
Tag someone who has inspired, mothered, or been there for you!

While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning...Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us.
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Every one of us can mother someone—beginning, of course, with the children in our own families but extending far beyond. Every one of us can show by word and by deed that the work of women in the Lord’s kingdom is magnificent and holy. I repeat: We are all mothers.
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Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of both the mother who bore us and the mothers who bear with us...Look around. Who needs you and your influence? If we really want to make a difference, it will happen as we mother those we have borne and those we are willing to bear with. Sheri Dew
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We’d love to hear your experiences below of when you have felt the power of mothers and motherhood! 💜

What is a mother heart and how is one acquired? We learn about some of those qualities in the scriptures. To paraphrase Proverbs: “Who can find a … woman [with a mother heart]? for her price is far above rubies. … She … worketh willingly with her hands. … With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. … She stretcheth out her hand to the poor. … Strength and honour are her clothing. … She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness”...
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There is no limit to what a woman with a mother heart can accomplish. Righteous women have changed the course of history and will continue to do so, and their influence will spread and grow exponentially throughout the eternities. — Julie B. Beck

We all make mistakes in our mothering. But through repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ, and by continually communicating his love, miracles can happen, wrongs can be righted. Never give up. Never let your arms hang down.

To mothers raising children alone, remember that you and the Lord constitute a majority. As your arms encircle your little ones, his arms are there, too. Feel secure, for his arms are lengthened out toward us all the day long.
Mary F. Foulger

My heart has felt extra tender this week reflecting on motherhood. How wonderful to know there isn’t one right way to be a mother and what a relief it is to know we don’t have to be perfect. Even this week I’ve experienced the high of praying over a child and receiving divine guidance meant just for them and the low of feeling like I’ve made one mistake too many and perhaps my offerings and sacrifices are too small... the truth is motherhood is both of these and also in between! I’m sharing below in the comments and more in our stories about what helps me the most when I feel overwhelmed and incapable of this great work of motherhood and caring for His children. I’d love to hear from you below as well —
What helps you to feel strength and power from God when mothering His children? — 💛 from team member Stephanie @stephanielonasmonroe

Before our amazing giveaway ends tonight (don’t miss it a couple posts back!) we wanted to give a big THANK YOU to the amazing companies celebrating the launch of our podcast with us, and tell you why they inspire us—because, truly, these companies are inspiration #goals!

Some people say you can’t share faith on company accounts, but they’ve proven that that’s just not the case. The women involved in these companies are beautiful examples to us, and here’s why:
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▪️Ralphie of @simplyonpurpose shares no-nonsense parenting advice and principles, but more than that—she helps parents see their worth and that of their kids, too. She’s recently shared free lectures at her church’s buildings, inviting all to come and see.
▪️Marilee and Jessica of @gathre have inspired us time and time again by sharing quotes of faith on their IG, and highlighting the lives of women who use their products—letting faith be part of that dialogue.
▪️Emily of @saranoni would be the last to say so, but has one of the most giving hearts we know. She’s donated countless blankets to refugees and her goodness knows no bounds.
▪️ @bethannallen paints quiet moments of mothering, and more—plus, there’s a painting of the Savior with a lamb that has touched us personally, and her story of why she painted it brought us to tears.
▪️Kimberly, Tosha & Kim at @loomjournals are movers and shakers of faith, and it shows in both their words and their commitment to building family relationships.
▪️Carolynn of @branches.art started her company sharing all about her fire for family history work, and it’s contagious in her products and mission.
▪️@letterfolk boards are a favorite way to make scripture visible in daily life and we love that the goal of Joanna and Johnny, the couple behind the company, is to bring the power of the written word into homes.
▪️@preemptivelove has a powerful mission on the frontline of conflict and disaster—to love anyway, show up, and get out of the way—and this trickles down to employing refugees to make their handmade products.
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Thank you to all these companies for supporting our podcast launch, and believing in us! Don’t miss the mother of all giveaways ENDING TONIGHT! xo

“What happens if you think of yourself as a total Christian? It means that you're in disguise on a secret mission for God. Your secret mission is to provide love and service for people that Jesus would have served if he were here on the earth. Every person you are with is the person Jesus wants you to serve.” -Chieko Okazaki

Today we’re celebrating 🥳 🎊 the launch of the Small Seed Podcast with a massive GIVEAWAY for TWO of you!
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This jam-packed giveaway has our very favorite things (swipe through to see them all!) from the most amazing women in our Small Seed community—all for YOU! Things like:
▪️Tickets to a @simplyonpurpose parenting workshop
▪️Gorgeous @gathre mats
▪️Our fave softest blankets from @saranoni
▪️The prettiest family trees from @branches.art
▪️Parent/child leather journals from @loomjournals
▪️Prints of choice from @bethannallen
▪️@letterfolk letter boards
▪️Our favorite curated scripture study products worth $200+
▪️And more!

Wanna win💥💥?!
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TO ENTER:
1. Subscribe to the podcast + leave a review on iTunes or our Facebook page (click the link in our bio for full details if you have any questions!)
2. Screenshot that you’ve subscribed + be sure to show us your review
3. Email us your screenshot via the email button in our bio!
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FOR AN ADDITIONAL ENTRY:
1. Tag 2 friends below that you think would love the podcast too!
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Thank you to the amazing women/companies who gave product to celebrate with us and kick this party off right! They are women and men of faith, doing so much good in the world (we’ll share more with you!) For full details of prizes see link in bio 🎁🎁
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Winners will be chosen at random after the giveaway closes at 11:59pm EST on TUESDAY, May 7, 2019. Winners will be notified via email and announced on Instagram and Facebook. Open to residents of US. An international giveaway will be hosted at a later date.

“Creativity is a God-given ability to take something ordinary and make it into something special. It is an openness to doing old things in new ways and a willingness to adapt other people’s good ideas to suit our personal needs. And creativity is an ability we all possess, although many of us keep it hidden in the deep corner of our lives. The creative spirit is part of our heritage as children of the One who created all things. And nurturing our creativity is part of our responsibility as stewards of God’s good gifts.” -Emily Barnes, “God’s Words of Life”
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We all have the ability and power to create, and we are all gifted in creating different things! Tell about what you love to create below! 👇🏻

Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father.
It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him.
Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help.
He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds...yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer. — Richard G. Scott (“Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer”)

Have you heard? Small Seed has a podcast! We are so thrilled with the chance we now have to connect with you in this forum. Thank you to those of you who have already listened and shared and reviewed 🤗💛 Your support truly means the world to us! .

Now WE would love to hear from YOU - have you listened yet? What did you think so far? Who would you want to hear us interview? And what topics are you hoping to hear about? And lastly, is that too many questions?! 😉 Probably it is!! But we really would love to hear your answer (or answers!) below 👇

“As women, we like very much to please others—sometimes seeking approval so frantically that we become torn and confused by the conflicting needs of those around us. Concentrating on pleasing Heavenly Father brings peace, a respite from fear and anxiety.
The prophet David said: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1.) Virginia H. Pearce
This was the pep talk we needed to begin a new week. We challenge you to not let fear stop you as you follow those nudges to get outside your comfort zone and do your part to build God’s kingdom wherever you are. Know we are cheering you on, and working alongside you!

Why does [the Lord] allow us to flounder and fail in our attempts to succeed? Among many important answers to that question, here are a few:
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First, the Lord knows that “these things shall give [us] experience, and shall be for [our] good.”
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Second, to allow us to “taste the bitter, that [we] may know to prize the good.”
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Third, to prove that “the battle is the Lord’s,” and it is only by His grace that we can accomplish His work and become like Him.
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Fourth, to help us develop and hone scores of Christlike attributes that cannot be refined except through opposition and “in the furnace of affliction.”
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...Knowing that the strait and narrow path would be strewn with trials and that failures would be a daily occurrence for us, the Savior paid an infinite price to give us as many chances as it would take to successfully pass our mortal probation...
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Our success, then, isn’t going from failure to failure, but growing from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm. -Lynn G. Robbins

Just as the Savior offers peace that “passeth all understanding,” He also offers an intensity, depth, and breadth of joy that defy human logic or mortal comprehension. For example, it doesn’t seem possible to feel joy when your child suffers with an incurable illness or when you lose your job or when your spouse betrays you. Yet that is precisely the joy the Savior offers. His joy is constant, assuring us that our “afflictions shall be but a small moment” and be consecrated to our gain...
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Joy is powerful, and focusing on joy brings God’s power into our lives. As in all things, Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” Think of that! In order for Him to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on earth, our Savior focused on joy! -Russell M. Nelson
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After celebrating Easter last week I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the Savior’s immense sacrifice and the gift of His Atonement. For as dark as Friday was, Sunday did come and with it came immeasurable joy and hope for us all! If you’re still experiencing “Friday” in your life, I hope you can feel seen and loved. 💛 We may not receive all the blessings and resolution we hope for in this life, but someday He will make everything right.
-Stephanie @stephanielonasmonroe

Happy Monday! We hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend! Don’t forget today is the last week of PRE-SALE pricing for the @multiplygoodness Jubilee, where we will be teaching workshops along with @multiplygoodness and @thefaithcollective — and just enjoying the company of wonderful Christian women like yourselves! Come join us on Saturday, August 17 in Lehi, Utah!

Click the link in our bio to find links to the ticketing site, as well as the Jubilee site with all the event details ✨

EASTER WEEK | Day 8 — Resurrection⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” — John 20:11-18 (KJV)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Painting by J. Kirk Richards