Creating a Sanctuary

Helping to Create a “Sanctuary/Refuge”
by Cleaning & Organizing

D&C 109:8. Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

CLEANING

The most important thing to remember with cleaning is to stay on top of it. Take the time to sit down and make a plan/schedule for your own home. Everyone will end up doing it differently, but here are a few ideas.

1st – Break up chores between daily, weekly, monthly and seasonally.
2nd – Make your own plan/calendar of when you want to tackle each thing.


DAILY CHORES

Keep Kitchen Clean:
§ Wash Dishes
§ Wipe Down Counters, Sink, Stovetop, Table & Chairs
§ Sweep Kitchen Floor
§ Take out Kitchen Trash
Check Bathrooms:
§ Wipe Down Counters (if needed)
§ Wipe Down Sinks (if needed)
§ Rinse out Showers/Tubs (Just have family members do it at the end of every bath/shower. I like “Clean Shower” from Arm & Hammer – just spray the shower after you are done, and it helps prevent mildew or scum build-up
Keep Floors Clean
§ Vacuum or sweep up any crumbs or obvious messes
§ Wipe up spills
Dust
§ If needed, do some feather dusting (Swiffer dusters are awesome!)
Wash Laundry
§ If you do at least one load of laundry a day it won’t pile up and you won’t play catch-up.
Tidy Up
§ Doing a little clutter control and a few minutes of picking up each day prevents your home from turning into a disaster.
Tidy Bedrooms
§ Make Beds
§ Put clothes in their proper place (in the hamper, closet or drawers)
File Papers
§ So papers don’t build up, put junk mail, letters, bills, school papers, receipts, etc. in their proper places.


WEEKLY CHORES

Clean Bathrooms (toilets, shower/tub, floors, straighten drawers & cabinets)
Clean Kitchen (sink, counters, appliances, stovetops, microwave, floor)
Clean Living Room, Bedrooms, Office
Clean Mirrors
Dust (furniture, wall hangings, ceiling fan, TV screen, computer monitor, blinds)
Entry/Porch/Patio/Garage (shake rugs, sweep)
Vacuuming/Mopping (carpets, rugs, stairs, hard floors)
Change All Linens
Wash Area Rugs
Spot Clean Walls/Doors
Gather & Take out Trash
MONTHLY CHORES

Dust Ceiling Fans
Clean Light Fixtures
Dust Air Vents
Clean Walls (Especially food preparation & eating areas)
Clean Window Treatments/Blinds
Dust Intensively (window sills, ceilings, corners/cobwebs, baseboards, doors, molding)
Vacuum Inside Furniture (couches)
Clean Interior Windows (and exterior windows if needed)
Spot Treat Carpet and Upholstery (schedule carpet cleaning if needed)
Dust/Check Smoke Alarms
Check Vacuum and Air Conditioner Filters/Change if Needed
Deep Clean Appliances (oven, refrigerator, freezer, microwave)


SEASONAL CHORES (Spring and Fall)

Windows (exterior)
Exterior Doors
Outdoor Areas (clean grills, patio furniture, etc.)
Move & Clean Behind Heavy Furniture/Appliances (stove, fridge, entertainment center, etc.)
Appliance Maintenance (vacuum refrigerator coils, clean vent & exhaust areas of dryer)
Clutter Control (Clean out pantry and all closets – remove clutter, store seasonal clothing)


ORGANIZATION

Ideas from "One Year to an Organized Life" by Regina Leeds - Get Your Life in Order One Day at a Time

Organization expert Regina Leeds offers step-by-step and day-by-day solutions to getting "all your ducks in a row." And there's no time like the present to start working your way to that organized life. The first thing you'll notice is that, when your life is organized, you'll be able to accomplish more in less time with little or no frustration. One Year to an Organized Life really is a month-by-month guide. But you don't have to wait until January 1st to start your project. You can choose any day or month to be your "January." From there, just get going. She has concluded that home and life organization comes down to 3 steps which she calls "The Magic Formula."

1 – Eliminate: Get rid of anything that is old, useless, torn, broken, out of style, or disliked should find another home. Choose the trash, a charity, a friend, or another room.

2 – Categorize: This means sort. Get like things together in one place. Soup goes with soup. Anne's files all go together. Sara's toys go in one box or drawer. Dad's shirts go on the same rack in the same closet. You get the idea.

3- Organize: Find containers, shelving, racks, and drawers to put things away. Each time you need to put something away, you will know exactly where it will go. And when you need to use something, you'll know exactly where to find it.

Leed's schedule for total life organization (adapt to your own needs):
January: The Kitchen
February: The Bedroom
March: The Home Office
April: The Bathroom
May: The Attic, Basement, Garage, Laundry Room and Guest Room
June: Traveling
July: Scrapbooks, Memorabilia, Greeting Cards, and Address Books
August: Moving
September: Back-to-School and Kids' Rooms
October: The Living Room, Dining Room, and Family Room
November: Entertaining and Thanksgiving
December: Christmas and New Year

By the end of the year, your home and your life will be in order and you'll be ready to really enjoy every day.
Kitchen Organization Tips

Mentally Prepare - Look in your kitchen and make a mental note of what belongs in there, what can be put away, what you don't need anymore, etc.

Organize Kitchen Cabinets - Take everything out of your kitchen cabinets, clean, and place them back into different categories such as glasses, plates, baking trays and so on. If your cabinets are organized you will save a lot of time during cooking.

Clean your Pantry - It's amazing the things you'll find stored in the back of a pantry. We often buy things we already have because we simply can't find them. So, take everything out of the pantry, clean and place back in categories. Use one shelf for dry foods such as cereals, pasta, etc. Use another for canned goods, and so on. Use baskets in your pantries for smaller items like stock cubes and gravy mixes. This will make them easier to find and avoid spillage from opened packets.

Use a Spice Rack - By simply using a wall-mounted or counter top spice rack you can save a lot of cabinet space and have your spices close at hand. Clearly label your spices and place the ones you use more often towards the front of the rack.

Clear your Counter Tops - Remove any items you don't use on a regular basis from your counter tops. Instead, store them in a cabinet or even your basement or garage (if you don’t use them very often).

Organize that Junk Drawer - Okay, just because we all call it the "junk drawer" doesn't mean it shouldn't be organized. Take a look through and throw out any items you many not need. Place small baskets in there to store items like batteries, clips and all those other interesting things we seem to collect in our kitchens.

Clean the Fridge - Every time you go grocery shopping clean out your fridge. You'll find things in there which have gone bad, are empty, etc. Throw out all these items and give your fridge a good wipe if necessary.

Set up a Message Station - If your kitchen allows, set up a specific place for the telephone, messages, keys, etc. If you don't have a space for this in your kitchen then try to find one in your hallway or living room.

Invest and be Clutter Free - Now you can find all sorts of inexpensive organizing products and gadgets for your kitchen and home. If possible invest in a few of these as they will make your job much easier. A simple pegboard where you can keep photos, messages or your kids works of art can be a lifesaver. The same thing goes for a plastic bag organizer or good spice rack. Invest a little and you'll reap the rewards in time saved and much more pleasant kitchen to cook in.


Closet Organization Tips

1. Set aside two to four hours to tackle a small closet; four to six hours to wrestle a walk-in into shape. If a friend can be coerced into helping you - or at least keeping you company - so much the better.

2. Buy a few plastic bins from your local discount store and collect some large, sturdy cardboard boxes. These will come in handy when you begin to sort and store.

3. Before you start, decide what types of items you want to store in the closet. Clothes and shoes only? Wrapping paper? Your bowling ball? Unfolded laundry? Plan ahead and create storage space elsewhere for items that will be evicted from your closet.

4. Ready to dig in? In a systemized way, take everything that's not on a hanger out of your closet. Go from the top of the closet to the bottom, from the floor up, or go from right to left.

5. As you remove each item, sort it into one of five piles: trash, giveaway, projects, storage or closet. The trash pile is self-evident - toss it into the garbage bin. Giveaways are those items you no longer need, but can be of use to a family member, a friend or a charity. Projects are those articles that need further action on your part - shoes that need new soles, clothing items missing a button, etc. Storage consists of things you want to keep, but not in your closet. The pieces in your closet pile will go back into your closet once you've finished organizing.

6. Take a look at your shoes. Haven't worn them in over a year, and won't in the foreseeable future? They're either trash or giveaways. Are they special occasion shoes that you'll wear again? Box them up and label them. If you're in a cold weather climate and you won't see sandals for another six months, box up your warm weather shoes and pack them away for the winter.

7. Once you've gotten this far, you're more than halfway there! Now you're down to the clothes on their hangers. This is the tough part, but boldness and bravery are necessary to achieve your goal. Go through each piece, one at a time, with as much objectivity as you can. Does the item fit you at your present size? Have you worn it in the past couple years? Has it seen better days? How does it really look? After answering these questions, decide whether it should go into trash, giveaway, storage, projects or closet.

8. Once you've sorted through everything in your closet, it's time to assess your progress and put everything in its proper place. Organize your hanging clothes by their function: sportswear, casual, career, special occasion. Within each function, group like items together: blouses, skirts, pants, jackets. Within these groups, organize by color.

9. Now you can dispose of your five piles. Dump the trash and be done with it. Sort the giveaway pile into items to distribute to people you know, and put the rest in a large carton or trash bag to be given to charity. Sort your projects pile into appropriate categories, and put them in a bin or box (take time to reserve a day on your calendar when you will tackle those tasks). Group the items in the storage pile by the location where they will be stored. Box up the things that are going into longer-term storage and label the boxes. Then, put all of the items in their proper places.

10. Now that you've reclaimed your closet space, you should have plenty of room to put away the things from your closet pile. Make sure to label any boxes, so you'll know what's inside and you won't have to dig the next time you need something.

11. If you have a small closet you may need to take additional steps to create more space. Consider over-the-door organizers, wall hooks and multi-level rods. Remember that the space under your bed can be utilized as long-term storage space.

12. Relax and congratulate yourself on a job well done!



Bathroom Organization Tips

1. After a thorough cleaning of the bathroom, take all items out of the drawers/cabinets. Clean empty drawers and cabinets while empty.

2. Discard any product that is over 1 year old. Old mascara, make up, lotions, deodorants, as well as unused items such as hairbrushes, clips or old nail clippers.

3. Place everyday items in convenient locations. Store less used products in the lower drawers or at the back of a cupboard.

4. Place hooks on the walls and back of doors for towels, robes, wet swim suits, etc. If possible, take things off your counter such as electric toothbrushes, hairdryers, etc. to free up counter space.

5. Use a hand soap dispenser for cleaning hands. Filling them is easier and cleaner than bar soap.

6. Install a basket in the shower/bath to hold the shampoos and other products. There are a variety of styles on the market.

7. If needed, consider putting extra storage in your bathroom such as a cabinet over the toilet.

8. Have a designated spot for wet or dirty towels. Don’t let them pile up in the bathroom.

9. Always have a place for everything in the bathroom to keep it tidy and neat. A well thought-out bathroom allows you to relax in the warmth of the bath, rather than stress about what needs to be cleaned.

10. Organize your bathroom, at least once a year.

Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Tips

I asked some of my family and friends to share with me some tips on cleaning that they have tried and really like –I also added some of my own – hope they help!

§ Try cleaning your bathtub with laundry detergent (liquid or powder). Just put a little bit of water in the bottom of the tub, add ½ a capful of detergent and wash away! It will take any soap scum right off!

§ Cleaning Shower Heads: Warm some vinegar in a microwave and pour into a ziplock bag large enough to place your shower fixture. Leave the shower head in the warm vinegar bath for about an hour. After that time, discard the vinegar and use a toothbrush to clean off any remaining mineral deposits. Rinse in warm water.

§ Removing Hairspray Residue: You can use this formula to remove hair spray residue from any hard surface -- vanities, tile, floors, walls, etc. Mix a solution of 1/3 liquid fabric softener and 2/3 water in a spray bottle. Spray on the surface to be cleaned, and wipe. Not only does it remove hair spray, it also acts as a dust repellent and shines vanities beautifully.

§ Removing soap scum form glass shower doors: Lemon oil or even plain mineral oil will remove soap scum quickly and easily and will help to keep it from coming back. Apply the oil with a scrubbing sponge and rub it across the dirty shower door surface. Buff with a soft cloth or paper towels to provide a haze-free shine. The oil provides a protective coating that keeps the water beading and the soap scum from adhering. Never put oil or allow it to drip on the floor of the shower; this will prevent good traction in the shower and may cause someone to fall.

§ Toilet Bowl Cleaning: Coca- Cola will remove stains from inside your toilet bowl. Just pour it in and let it sit for about an hour, giving the acid some time to work and then flush. Here's another tip: drop a couple of Alka Seltzer or denture cleaning tablets into your toilet. Let these dissolve and go to work and then flush. If you'd rather use a more conventional household item for bathroom cleaning, pour vinegar in the bowl and let it sit overnight (vinegar works well to get hard water stains off side of toilet bowl).

§ You can use liquid toilet bowl cleaner to clean your tub. Just pour it on and rub it around. Let it sit for awhile and it gets the stains out really well. (I learned this by accident. My daughter squirted it in the tub and left it for a while. A few days after she cleaned it I asked her what she had done because it was really white where she has poured the cleaner.)

§ Tile Cleaning Tip: It's not enough to give tile a wipe down every now and then. If not cleaned properly, grout will turn gray and dingy. Try this safe home remedy for cleaning bathroom tiles. Make a paste of baking soda and peroxide, apply to your grout, rub in with an old toothbrush and let sit for at least 30 minutes. For more heavy duty bathroom cleaning, dip your toothbrush in some bleach and give the grout a good scrub. Rinse by cleaning with a damp sponge.

§ Try washing your shower curtains in the washing machine with a big towel. Just put the detergent in like normal and then put a half of a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle. Don't let the machine go to the spin cycle. Then just hang the curtain up. The wrinkles will go out. It only works if you have a towel with the shower curtain.

§ Homemade Laundry stain remover: 1 part household ammonia, 1 part liquid tide. Pour on stains and scrub. For tough ones pour on and let soak over night. I love this for orange baby food and diaper blow outs! It doesn't hurt or fade colors.

§ Homemade Scouring Cleaning: If you have a hard to remove stain and a surface that you can use a scouring cleaner on, trying sprinkling salt onto the stain and rubbing with a clean micro fiber cloth soaked in either lemon juice or white vinegar.

§ Cleaning with Vinegar: Cleaners don't have to be pricey or chemical-laden to be effective. In fact, they don't even have to be store-bought. Create your own all-purpose cleaner by filling a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water. Then, shake up the mixture, and you're ready for your next cleaning spree. Why This Works: The acetic acid in vinegar kills viruses, germs, bacteria and mold. It also dissolves tough mineral deposits and stains like those found in sinks, toilets and tubs.

§ I use baking soda & vinegar to clean all of my tubs, sinks and counters, fridge, etc. Vinegar is a disinfectant and the baking soda is a scouring agent. It works well and is cheaper than other cleaning supplies. I do occasionally use a cleaner with bleach to keep things white though. I also use lemon juice around my kitchen and bathroom faucets. It gets the hard water build--up & smells a lot better than the lime-away. Besides the cost savings I also like using these things to clean because then I don't have to freak out so much when one of the kids wants to come in and be in the middle of everything while I am cleaning. The vinegar smell goes away after you rinse things and they dry. Baking soda gets crayons and pens off the walls. I have found it works just as good as magic eraser and it is much cheaper.

§ I love vinegar! It works so great for any hard water spots that you can't get with any other cleaner. It stinks for a minute but it goes away just as quick as all that gunk on your shower doors and sinks.

§ I love ammonia for cleaning my jewelry; it works so great for all the sterling silver jewelry that I have. I even clean my wedding ring with it occasionally. If you just put your jewelry in a small cup of it and let it sit for a few hours it works best.

§ You know the black scuffs and such on your walls and baseboards? Well my grandma taught me to use hairspray. Iit works like the magic erasers you can buy now but most women already have it in their home.

§ For a great once-a-month drain cleaner, pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the drain, follow with 1/2 cup white vinegar -- it will foam. Cover and let sit 30 minutes and then flush with cool water. For stubborn, slow-running drains, pour 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup salt down the drain. Follow this with 2 quarts boiling water. Let sit 30 minutes, then flush with cool water.

§ I like "20 Mule team Borax Laundry booster.” There are a lot of things people can use it for, obviously most use it for a laundry booster. But I like it best for odor problems. Now that I have a dog- it works great! After he peed in my car, I just poured this stuff on, rubbed it in good, and when it dried I vacuumed it up. I had to do it again, but now there is no trace of it. It also works well with odor stains on mattresses.

§ Outside Windows: Combine the following in a bucket. 2 quarts of warm water and 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Mix well and then wash the window with the solution using a sponge. A natural sponge is the best choice. Then simply buff dry for a fantastic shine.

§ Stuff plastic grocery sacks in an empty Kleenex box to store them.

§ Find plastic tubs or bright colored containers for kids toys. Draw or tape a picture on the front (like balls, trucks, dishes etc.) so small children know what goes in them - helps them to help you pick up.

§ Check out this website: www.flylady.com. Four or five people recommended this website and nothing else. It has a lot of great ideas and a cool system for cleaning and organization.

PhotoShop Lesson

Here's what we practiced. Use "Help" to remind yourself how to do these things.


Erasing Background
Eraser
Background Eraser
Magic Eraser

Covering Flaws
Clone Stamp
(Use alt click)
Spot Healing Brush

Combining 2 images
Duplicate Layer

Fixing Color
Image, Adjustments, Replace color
Image, Adjustments, brightness/contrast
Eyedropper Tool

Artistic Effects
Filters

Cropping and Resizing
Cropper
Image, Canvas Size
Image, Image Size
Image, Trim

Eliminate Photography Flaws
Filter, Noise, Reduce Noise
Red Eye Removal Tool

Recipes & meal planning

Sorry it took this long to post what I did for my lesson.

To organize my recipes I typed up all my loose paper recipes & my favorites from books & saved them onto a flash drive. When I have enough I am going to have my own cook book printed. (This way I have all my favorites in one spot & I won't need to pull out more then that one book.)

For meal planning I have a favorites list with all of my family's favorite meals listed. Every month I take a blank calendar & fill in all the dinners for each day. (I do leave a few open for nights out or new recipe auditions) Then on a separate paper I create my weekly menu, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, & snacks. This is where I can get my grocery list.

I have a thing I put together to compare prices from all the adds weekly to find the best prices. I take this with me to Wal-Mart because they will price match without you having to have the add, you only need the price. If they don't have the same brand you can use the store brand as a substitute.

I also found this website: www.gurusdeals.com (I think it only has the deals in Utah. Sorry Halee) On here he has gone through all the adds & has the best prices already done for you. He also has great tips for ways to get up to 70% off on meals at restaurants, clothing stores, etc. You have to check it out!!

Any ?'s just post a comment. I hope these help with organizing that recipe box/cupboard & saving you a few $$.

Photoshop questions?

I am going to cover some tips for working with Photoshop on Monday. Does anyone have any suggestions about the kinds of things you would like to learn how to do? Or a photo you would like us to revise?

Morning & Evening Lists

Ok ladies, most of us have been doing a pretty good job of keeping our sinks dish free & shiny. Keep it up!!

Our next project to work on is: Morning & Evening Lists

Examples:

Mornings

1. Get up at decided wake time.
2. Put wash in dryer & a new load into washer.
3. Get dressed & ready for the day.
a. Shower or bathe.
b. Face washed & make-up.
c. Do hair.
d. Brush teeth.
e. Get dressed (office clothes if needed)
f. Put on sensible shoes for morning jobs & cleaning.
g. Put on apron or housedress to cover clothes (this is to prevent dirtying your clothes)
4. Make bed.
5. Empty dishwasher so you have a place to load dirty dishes throughout the day.
6. Brush & wipe down the toilet.*
7. Clean sink & counter in all baths.
8. Check emails.
9. Eat breakfast & take a 5 minute scripture study time.

*If you have a toilet brush in every bath & leave brush holder with some cleaner/disinfectant inside you will not need toilet cleaner for the toilets.

Evening

1. Walk through each room & put it to bed.
a. Set timer for 2 minutes (each room)
b. Pick up all clutter & put away.
c. turn down beds if using bedroom.
2.Open mail if you haven't already.
a. Put bills in place to be paid.
b. Throw junk away.
3. Check appointments for tomorrow & listen to messages on phone(s).
4. Load all extra dishes, glasses, etc. into dishwasher & start it.
5. Wash & dry any dishes or pots, etc. that didn't go into dishwasher.
6. Clean kitchen.
a. Set timer for 5 minutes.
b. Wipe counters & table.
c. Shine sink.
d. Put everything away.
e. Sweep or vacuum floor if necessary.
f. Get out clean dishcloths & dishtowels.
g. Empty garbage.
7. Start a load of laundry.
8. Choose & lay out clothes for tomorrow.
a. Take care of any ironing or mending that was missed when doing laundry.
b. Pick out & lay out accessories.
c. If handbag needs changing, do so now.
9. Get launch pad ready. (Usually by the door you will be leaving from)
a. Put the shoes that you will be wearing that day here so you don't forget to change out of your sensible shoes from the mornings jobs.
b. Gather all papers, books, bags, etc. for the day.
c. Put out car keys, cell phone with charger, purse, wallet, planner, etc.

You can rearrange the order for what fits your lifestyle the best. You can also add anything you might need to the lists that may not be on there, example: exercise, some people like to do this in the mornings & others like it better at night.

Shiny Sink 101

BE SURE AND RINSE WELL BETWEEN EACH STEP OF THE WAY!

1. Take all the dishes out of the sink.
   
   
2. Run some very hot water into the sink. Fill to the rim. Only do one side at a time. Then, pour a cup of household bleach into the hot water. Let it sit for 1 hour. Now, pull the plug with a pair of tongs. If you don't have tongs, then scoop some of the water out of the sink into the other sink and use your hand to pull the plug (wear gloves and don't get the bleach-water on your clothes). 
   
   
3. Rinse your sink well. 
   
   
4. Use some cleanser (Comet, Ajax, or Baking Soda) and scrub your sink. Ensure you rinse ALL of the cleanser from the sink.
   
   
5. Take a sharp edge and clean around the rim of the sink, just like you would clean dirt out from under your fingernails.
   
   
6. Clean around the faucets too. You may need an old toothbrush or dental floss.
   
   
7. Now, get out your window cleaner, I use Windex, and give it a good shine. 
   
   
8. If you still don't like the way it looks, then you could try some car wax. Just know in your heart that you have cleaned it very well now and it doesn't have to be perfect. Our perfectionism is what got us in this situation in the first place.
   
   
9. Every time you run water in your sink, take your clean dishtowel and dry it out (I lay out a clean one, every night with my before bedtime routine). Before you know it, you will be doing this everytime you leave your kitchen. The rest of the family will too. No more water spots. You will have a clean and shiny sink.
   
   
10. Don't have a fit if someone doesn't take as much pride in your sink as you do. It is very easy to fix. You have already done the hard part. You will never have to go through this process again. Daily maintenance will keep it looking this way all the time. Nasty hurtful word are not as easy to repair. Just be sure and tell your family what you are trying to do. They will think you have gone crazy. 
    
    
11. If you don't have a dishwasher, don't worry. A dishwasher is just a dirty dish disposal. Clean out a place under your sink and put a dishpan in there. Teach your family, that instead of putting their dirty dishes and glasses in the sink, place them into the dish pan. Get into the habit of putting your dishes away as soon as they have been washed and are dry. No more leaving the dish drying rack on the counter or in the sink. Put it away under the sink when you have finished. If your old one is nasty, you may want to soak it in the sink full of bleach water at the same time you soak the sink or go buy a new set. 
    
    
12. To insure that your family remembers this, put a note in the sink. It will get their attention and remind them where to put the dishes. Be patient! They have never been taught either. It is going to take some practice. 

Our Refined Heavenly Home

I'm posting the article from the Ensign just in case anyone looses their copy. And then Halee can also get everything we are doing.

Douglas L. Callister, “Our Refined Heavenly Home,” Ensign, Jun 2009, 54–58

From a devotional address given at Brigham Young University on September 19, 2006. For the full text in English, visit http://speeches.byu.edu.

If we could part the veil and observe our heavenly home, we would be impressed with the cultivated minds and hearts of those who so happily live there. I imagine that our heavenly parents are exquisitely refined. In this great gospel of emulation, one of the purposes of our earthly probation is to become like them in every conceivable way so that we may be comfortable in the presence of heavenly parentage and, in the language of Enos, see their faces “with pleasure” (Enos 1:27).

President Brigham Young (1801–77) said, “We are trying to be the image of those who live in heaven; we are trying to pat[t]ern after them, to look like them, to walk and talk like them.”1 I would like to peek behind the veil that temporarily separates us from our heavenly home and paint a word picture of the virtuous, lovely, and refined circumstances that exist there. I will speak of the language, literature, music, and art of heaven, as well as the immaculate appearance of heavenly beings, for I believe that in heaven we will find each of these in pure and perfected form.

The nearer we get to God, the more easily our spirits are touched by refined and beautiful things.

Language

God speaks all languages, and He speaks them properly. He is restrained and modest of speech. When God described the grand creational process of this earth, He said in measured tones that “it was good” (Genesis 1:4). We would be disappointed if God had used “awesome” or other exaggerated phrases.

Britain’s Ben Jonson said: “Language most shows a man. Speak, that I may see thee.”2 Our language reveals our thoughts, virtues, insecurities, doubts—even the homes from which we come. We will feel more comfortable in Heavenly Father’s presence if we have developed proper habits of speech.

I suppose that the language of heaven, properly spoken, may approach a form of music. Did C. S. Lewis have this in mind when he wrote, “Isn’t it funny the way some combinations of words can give you—almost apart from their meaning—a thrill like music?”3 At the birth of Jesus the angels appeared and spoke, not sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). We now try to capture that beauty in song, but the original angelic utterance was in spoken words.

In his biography on Ralph Waldo Emerson, Van Wyck Brooks relates that Emerson was invited to speak at the commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the great poet Shakespeare’s birth. After proper introduction Emerson presented himself at the pulpit and then sat down. He had forgotten his notes. He preferred to say nothing rather than words not well measured. For some, it was Emerson in one of his most eloquent hours.4

Refinement in speech is more than polished elocution. It results from purity of thought and sincerity of expression. A child’s prayer on occasion may reflect the language of heaven more nearly than a Shakespearean soliloquy.

Refinement in speech is reflected not only in our choice of words but also in the things we talk about. There are those who always speak of themselves; they are either insecure or proud. There are those who always speak of others; they are usually boring. There are those who speak of stirring ideas, compelling books, and inspiring doctrine; these are the few who make their mark in this world. The subjects discussed in heaven are not trifling or mundane; they are sublime beyond our most extended imagination. We will feel at home there if we are rehearsed on this earth in conversing about the refined and noble, clothing our expressions in well-measured words.

Literature

Is Friday evening a frenetic flight to see where the entertainment and action will be? Could our society today produce an Isaac Newton or a Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? Can 85 channels and uncountable DVDs ever fill our insatiable appetite to be entertained? Do any unwisely become addicted to computer games or Internet surfing, thereby missing the richer experiences of great reading, conversations, and enjoyment of music?

I don’t know whether our heavenly home has a television set or a DVD player, but in my mind’s imagery it surely has a grand piano and a magnificent library. There was a fine library in the home of President Gordon B. Hinckley’s (1910–2008) youth. It was not an ostentatious home, but the library contained about 1,000 volumes of the rich literature of the world, and President Hinckley spent his early years immersed in these books. To be well-read, however, it is not necessary to possess expensive collections of literature, for they are available to rich and poor alike in the libraries of the world.

President David O. McKay (1873–1970) was inclined to awaken daily at 4:00 a.m., skim read up to two books, and then commence his labors at 6:00 a.m. He could quote 1,000 poems from memory. He referred to the grand masters of literature as the “minor prophets.” He was a living embodiment of the scriptural admonition to “seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom” (D&C 88:118).

My wife and I recently spent four years on Church assignment in Eastern Europe. We often traveled on the Moscow underground subway, called the Metro. We noticed the bowed heads of the Russian passengers, for they were reading Tolstoy, Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, or Pushkin—and, sometimes, Mark Twain. The people were poor, but they were not obsessed with their poverty. They possessed the rich tradition of Russian literature, art, and music.

President McKay noted: “As with companions so with books. We may choose those which will make us better, more intelligent, more appreciative of the good and the beautiful in the world, or we may choose the trashy, the vulgar, the obscene, which will make us feel as though we’ve been ‘wallowing in the mire.’”5

Of course, the scriptures stand paramount among good literature, for they are not founded on the opinions of men.

Music

If we could peek behind the heavenly veil, we would likely be inspired by the music of heaven, which is probably more glorious than any music we have heard on this earth.

When some music has passed the tests of time and been cherished by the noble and refined, our failure to appreciate it is not a condemnation of grand music. The omission is within. If a young person grows up on a steady diet of hamburgers and french fries, he is not likely to become a gourmet. But the fault is not with fine food. He just grew up on something less. Some have grown up on a steady diet of musical french fries.

This would be a good time to sift through your music library and choose primarily that which uplifts and inspires. It is part of the maturing process of your eternal journey. This would also be a fine time to learn a musical instrument or improve musical skills now partially possessed.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “We … live in a world that is too prone to the tasteless and we need to provide an opportunity to cultivate a taste for the finest music. And likewise, we’re in a world that’s so attuned to the now. We need to permit people to be more attuned to the best music of all the ages.”6

Recognizing the penetrating influence of great music, Oscar Wilde had one of his characters say, “After playing Chopin, I feel as if I had been weeping over sins that I had never committed, and mourning over tragedies that were not my own.”7 After the first performance of Messiah, Handel, responding to a compliment, said, “My lord, I should be sorry if I only entertained them—I wish to make them better.”8 Haydn “dressed in his best clothes to compose because he said he was going before his maker.”9

Some events in life are so sublime that they cannot be imagined without the companionship of beautiful music. We could not have a Christmas without carols or a general conference without sacred anthems. And there could not be a heaven without music of surpassing beauty. President Young said, “There is no music in hell, for all good music belongs to heaven.”10 It would be punishment enough to go to hell and not hear a note of music for all eternity.

Art, Appearance, and Attitude

What I have shared about bringing great language, literature, and music into the home may be said with equal truth of great art—perhaps tastefully displayed in our heavenly home. It may also be said of our physical appearance and manners, the order of our homes, how we offer our prayers, and how we read God’s word.

I once visited briefly with the great actress Audrey Hepburn while she was making the movie My Fair Lady. She spoke of the opening scene in the movie in which she depicted a modest, unpolished flower girl. Her face had been besmirched with charcoal to make her seem part of her surroundings. “But,” she said with a twinkle in her eye, “I was wearing my perfume. Inside I still knew I was a lady.” It doesn’t take expensive perfume to make a lady, but it does require cleanliness, modesty, self-respect, and pride in one’s appearance.

Many years ago an associate of mine decided he would please his wife by sharing with her a specific compliment each night as he arrived home. One night he praised her cooking. A second night he thanked her for excellence in housekeeping. A third night he acknowledged her fine influence on the children. The fourth night, before he could speak, she said, “I know what you are doing. I thank you for it. But don’t say any of those things. Just tell me you think I am beautiful.”

She expressed an important need she had. Women ought to be praised for all the gifts they possess—including their attentiveness to their personal appearance—that so unselfishly add to the richness of the lives of others. We must not let ourselves go and become so casual—even sloppy—in our appearance that we distance ourselves from the beauty heaven has given us.

Some flippantly say, “How I look has nothing to do with how God feels about me.” But it is possible for both earthly parents and heavenly parents to have unspoken disappointment in their offspring without diminished love.

President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918), sixth President of the Church, owned few things, but he took care of them. He was fastidious in his appearance. He pressed his dollar bills to remove the wrinkles. He allowed none but himself to pack his overnight bag. He knew where every article, nut, and bolt of the household was, and each had its place.

Would this be true of the environment in which you live? Is it a house of order? Need you dust, clean, and rearrange before you invite the Spirit of the Lord into your home? President Lorenzo Snow (1814–1901) said: “The Lord does not intend that the Saints shall live always in dens and caves of the earth, but that they shall build fine houses. When the Lord comes he will not expect to meet a dirty people, but a people of refinement.”11

David Starr Jordan, former president of Stanford University, wrote: “To be vulgar is to do that which is not the best of its kind. It is to do poor things in poor ways, and to be satisfied with that. … It is vulgar to wear dirty linen when one is not engaged in dirty work. It is vulgar to like poor music, to read weak books, to feed on sensational newspapers, … to find amusement in trashy novels, to enjoy vulgar theatres, to find pleasure in cheap jokes.”12

Your Father in Heaven has sent you away from His presence to have experiences you would not have had in your heavenly home—all in preparation for the conferral of a kingdom. He doesn’t want you to lose your vision. You are children of an exalted being. You are foreordained to preside as kings and queens. You will live in a home and environment of infinite refinement and beauty, as reflected in the language, literature, music, art, and order of heaven.

I close with the words of President Young: “Let us … show to the world that we have talent and taste, and prove to the heavens that our minds are set on beauty and true excellence, so that we can become worthy to enjoy the society of angels.”13

Even more, may we become worthy to enjoy the refined society of heavenly parentage, for we are of the race of the Gods, being “children of the most High” (Psalm 82:6).

Photograph by Robert Casey; bottom and top: borders by Shambala Publications; right: border by Nova Development

Photograph © Getty Images

Notes

1. Brigham Young, “Remarks,” Deseret News, Mar. 5, 1862, 1.

2. In Algernon Swinburne, A Study of Ben Jonson, ed. Sir Edmund Gosse and others (1926), 120.

3. C. S. Lewis, They Stand Together: The Letters of C. S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves (1914–1963) (1979), 96.

4. See Wendell J. Ashton, In Your Own Image (1959), 113.

5. David O. McKay, Pathways to Happiness, comp. Llewelyn R. McKay (1957), 15.

6. Neal A. Maxwell, in LaMar Barrus, “The Joy of Music,” New Perspectives, Apr. 1997, 10.

7. The Works of Oscar Wilde (1909), 112.

8. In “A Tribute to Handel,” Improvement Era, May 1929, 574.

9. In Hal Williams, “Dr. Reid Nibley on Acquiring a Taste for Classical Music,” BYU Today, Apr. 1980, 14.

10. Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 242.

11. Lorenzo Snow, in Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors, ed. Matthias F. Cowley (1964), 468.

12. David Starr Jordan, “The Strength of Being Clean,” in Inspirational Classics for Latter-day Saints, comp. Jack M. Lyon (2000), 191.

13. Discourses of Brigham Young, 424.

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