Spiritual Warfare - My Response to A Mother's Plea

A few months ago I shared in a video a response I gave to a mother's plea for advice. She had messaged me and expressed her sorrow and frustration towards her teenage son who was making choices that she was not pleased with and worried that his behaviors would rub off onto her younger children. She was angry, tired, exhausted and feeling hopeless. She didn't know how she could love him and put her foot down at the same time. After sharing her feelings with me, I wrote back a response and shared it in a video. Many were touched by the response and I've since had several requests for a transcript copy. I thought I would share it here on the blog so all can reference it anytime:

"Hi, you are so welcome! I'm so happy to hear that you are liking the videos and information that I have shared. Praising can be a difficult thing to do for issues that press so heavy on the heart. It's hard to watch loved ones - especially children go down difficult paths. 

I would suggest praising God for what this experience is currently teaching you and what it will continue to teach you. That you are learning unconditional love on a level you never anticipated. That you are starting to have an understanding for what it was must feel like for our Father in Heaven to watch so many of his children (not just one child) struggle and separate themselves from His love. That you are so grateful for His unconditional love for all of His children and that you are so grateful that you can experience what that is like as a parent. That you are learning trust in the Lord in all things. That you are truly believing that and grateful that God has your son and your entire family in the palm of His hands. Praise Him for the blessings that will come from this experience. The blessings that you may not even be aware of yet.

Praise Him that you know that He takes what the adversary uses to pull you down or your son down, for your greatest blessings, and you know that some of your greatest blessings and son's greatest blessings will one day come from this experience. Praise Him that someday your son will be able to empathize and help others who find themselves on this same path - because he will know what that feels like. He will have the much needed perspective to be in a position to help without judgment. Praise Him for the opportunities He offers to put names in the temple, and to send angels for support and protection, and for opportunities for prayer and fasting. Opportunities for miracles. Praise Him that because of this experience you are growing even closer to the Lord and feeling such a need for His guidance and support more than you ever have before and because of that you feel so blessed and grateful to learn to rely on Him. Praise Him for the gift of agency and that you are so grateful your son is allowed his agency and that he is using it to learn the bad so that he can one day cleave to the good. He is learning the bitter so that he can one day appreciate the sweet. 

After all the praising I would do an intercessory prayer and imagine yourself standing before the counsels of Heaven pleading on behalf of your son. His spirit will very much appreciate this even though his natural man would not. In prayer plead you case before the Father and request divine intervention. State your case. Speak of your son how you truly know him when he is not under a dark influence. Refuse to see him any other way. Choose to see him in a state of wholeness always. That is who he truly is. State this in your case, and bring up all the good and wonderful things he has done and his best qualities. Speak this before the courts of Heaven and pray for mercy and grace to be upon your son. As the adversary works to accuse and prosecute, you can counteract his words when you speak truth about your son and who he truly he is, and what his destiny truly is. Tell the counsels you are ready for this trial to have closure. As his mother you have stewardship to plead on his behalf, since he is not in a state to do so for himself. I would also suggest increasing your fasting. Fast one day each week, or try a 3 day fast each month in which you Fast 24 hours and break it with a meal (dinner) and then fast another 24 hours and again break it with dinner and then one more day. There is greater power in 3 days - in which I am learning. Do this, and send love to your son all throughout the day. Send love his heart, send loving thoughts to his mind, and speak to his spirit. Even though it may seem like it's not getting through on the outside, it will strengthen his spirit on the inside. 

I would also be very specific and detailed in spiritual warfare prayer. Pray for the armies of Heaven to come down and cast out the enemy in every form around your son. Remove the enemy's weapons. Destroy every effort against your son, shred very blue print and plan that the enemy has for your son, tear down all strong holds, expose his plans, tactics, and lies, locate where his armies are encamped and scatter them, cast them out and bind them in a place prepared just for them. Bind them in cords of light permanently until the Lord sees fit fir their release according to His will. Send the hosts of Heaven to cause chaos and confusion in the devil's kingdom. Break it up. Pray for angels to locate any and all portals of darkness that have been opened up in your son's life, and close them and seal them up permanently, that they may have no more access. Pray for angels to open up portals of Heaven in their place, that Heaven may have access and freely flow into his life. Pray for angels and/or the Savior to break His chains. Crush every link. After praying this ask for cleaning angels to come dust away and clean up all residues of darkness left behind. Polish his spaces and places with the light and love of the Savior. 

Pray for a shield of light (a Heavenly bubble) to be placed around him with a 5 mile radius, that no darkness may penetrate it. Then pray that while he is in this protection that he remember the truth of who he really is, so he can break free. Pray that he will have a divine encounter with the Spirit, and with Heaven. That he can step forward into his destiny and into his truth as a righteous son in God's Kingdom. Pray this every morning before the day begins and every night before you go to bed. Their is so much power in a righteous mother's prayer. More power than we can even comprehend. Next to the Savior, you are the most powerful person in His life right now. 

As you do this each day, and increase your fasting - Heaven will respond to your request and you will see big changes begin to happen. They may seem small at first, but over time Satan will grow weary of this. It will wear the devil out and begin to terrify him,  and he will decide to move on to someone else. Praise the Lord that He is working on your behalf each day to bring about break through and healing in your son's life. Praise Him for all the things going on in favor of your son that you cannot see because of the veil. All of the unseen miracles and interventions. Believe that your son is an amazing and honorable child of God, who has a very important role in God's Kingdom - otherwise the adversary would not work so hard to keep him from that. Believe that he will fulfill that role, and that he is counting on you to never give up on him. 

The anger and negativity comes from feeling separated from the love of God. It truly is a spiritual death. He just wants to feel that love and security, but isn't sure how to do it. Spiritually he feels like he is suffocating. Whoever has light and God's love - he will try to suck it from them since he is not getting it from the direct source. This is why power struggles and abuse happen. Shield yourself and your other children, and do your best to guide him back to the source - the Lord. Pray for angels to help guide him back. 

I know if you do this, you will be triumphant in your efforts! Spiritual warfare is real, and we have to remember that the Savior already won the victory on that third day, and because of that the adversary has no power over us. He wants us to forget that, and believe that things are hopeless. But when we remember it, and live as though we believe it, it truly terrifies him. I know that was a much longer answer than you probably expected, but you've got this! Keep your chin high and your eye on the Lord. Always look to Him. Keep His picture in every room of your home. Take that dominion over your home, it terrifies Satan and his minions. They cannot stand His image or presence. I'll keep you in my prayers."

Prayers and Dreams

My sweet five-year-old, Cambrey had a dream last week that she was so eager to share with me. She said that we were camping in a tent with our family. We prayed and then went outside of our tent. Suddenly an angel appeared in the sky and said, "Jesus will visit you soon" After that Jesus came down on a cloud and began to tell us many important things. She couldn't remember what he said, but remembered it being very special and important. After that, Jesus joined us in the car on the drive back home. He sat in the backseat and told us lots of great things. Then He went back up to Heaven on the cloud. She was beaming as she shared this with me,

A week prior, she had found some pretty pink crystals in the basement. They were scattered about on the floor in a way meant just for her. Almost like a trail someone had made. No one in the family had ever seen them before. When I asked her whose they were, she said they were a gift to her from Jesus. She said, "Mom, Jesus knows that I love crystals and that pink is my favorite color. He did this just for me!" She was so happy, she took them to show-and-tell at preschool and told everyone what had happened.

I have been fasting and praying over the past few months to have a personal witness of my Savior and to see Him face to face and talk with Him. I know it sounds like a big request, but I also know that He tells us to ask and we shall receive. No request is too big for the Lord. When I heard my daughter say, "Jesus will visit you soon", I couldn't help but feel that message was just for me. It was a beautiful and tender mercy.

I know that the Lord hears our prayers and they are important to Him. He knows the desires of our hearts and it pleases Him when we ask for them in faith. He wants to bless us with what we ask for. Never give up on your prayers and never give up on the Lord.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Humility and a Hospital - The Bright Side of Adveristy

This last week was pure exhaustion! So much sickness has come in and out of our house over the last 3 weeks and I am the only one who has managed to avoid it. My 6 year old son was hit the hardest by a nasty virus that wreaked havoc and everyone for 24 hours. For him, he never seemed to recover.

On the 2nd day of being sick, I was at the church all night as I was in charge of a Relief Society activity. My husband went to give my son a blessing and could not find his oil. So he gave a blessing without the oil. The next day after no improvement, I felt helpless and wanted to see what else could be done. My husband was at work carrying out a huge event that he could not miss. So, I went on Facebook asking if any priesthood brethren were home who could come administer a healing blessing with oil. 

 Within a few minutes several women were offering their husbands, fathers, grandfathers (you name it!) to come help. Finally, a brother from the ward showed up in a white shirt and tie ready to give a blessing. He is a dentists as is his wife. Apparently his wife showed up while he was with a patient and he asked her what she was doing there and she replied, "I'm here to take over so you can go give Sister Rietzsch's son a blessing." He left work, went home and changed and came over to our home.

I was so touched and humbled by this kind act and the many kind acts that followed from everyone in the neighborhood for the rest of the week.

The blessing was powerful and the Spirit bore witness that Gabe would heal in due time. After it was over Gabe was able to rest in bed for 7 hours without having to get up once. It was a blessing!

Late into the night the illness came on strong again, and he was again a slave to the bathroom. Gabe began to sob, saying that the blessing had not worked. I had to explain to him that blessings always occur on the Lord's time and according to our faith. The Lord said he would be healed in due time not "instantly". It broke my heart to see him so discouraged but I knew he was needing to learn this for a reason.

The next morning, not much had changed.After missing a whole week of school, and the doctor telling me to wait it out three more days before I bring him in, I finally drove him to Primary Children's Medical Center and admitted him to the ER.

He was dehydrated from severe diarrhea and his bowels were very irritated to the point of continuous bleeding. He was given an IV and fully hydrated in just a couple of hours. They took samples and sent in for tests. After nothing else could be done, they sent us home. He was starting to show improvement, had the energy to laugh again and was able to sleep through the whole night.

The next morning he was completely himself again! Now, he could see that the blessing had been fulfilled. He was better!

During this experience several thoughts crossed my mind. First I thought about how terrible these viruses are getting and wondered if it's a blessing to help strengthen our immune systems for what is to come. Then, I thought about how the Lord tests and strengthens those he chooses. The younger generations have a lot to prepare for in these last days and they need to be strong. Our patience, endurance, faith and testimonies are being challenged often to help us and the Lord know where we stand. Can He use us in the way that He needs to? What do we need to learn and experience in order to be better prepared and strengthened?

Realizing this helped me get through one crazy week. We learned that relying on the Lord is all you can do in situations like this. We learned that we have wonderful neighbors who care and want to help in our times of need. We learned that we are a lot stronger than we realized. We learned that sometimes being exhausted of all your energy puts you in a position to experience great humility. Humility reminds us of where our strength and blessings come from. We remember that we are nothing without God.

There are several scriptures that teach us about the importance of humility. Here are some that I really like:

Doctrine and Covenants 104:79-80

 And it is my will that you shall humble yourselves before me, and obtain this blessing by your diligence and humility and the prayer of faith.

 And inasmuch as you are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, until I shall send means unto you for your deliverance.

Doctrine and Covenants  112:10

  Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.

This experience has reminded me that the Lord gives us adversity so that we remember him. What a beautiful thing affliction can be when you have suffered through it and become refined. When you remember the Lord in everything- you find your strength!

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

My Daughter's Dream

Saturday morning the most unusual thing happened. Beginning at midnight the night before, my 1 year old woke up screaming. We figure she'd had a nightmare as there seemed to be nothing wrong. She has surprisingly never done this before. We calmed her down and got her back to sleep.

In the morning when I went to wake her up I walked into her room and heard her singing a song that she had made up. It was about Jesus. She was rocking back and forth singing "Jesus ______, Jesus _______" I couldn't understand the second word but she was very happy and smiling.

I said, "Are you singing about Jesus?" She said, "Mom..I see Jesus on wall." and she pointed at the ceiling. There are no pictures of Jesus in her room. I said "Did you have a dream about Jesus?" "Yes!" she exclaimed "I see him outside in the sky." and she pointed to the window and up at the sky. "What did he say?" I asked. "He watching us!" she said. Then she repeated it all over again in that order. 

Later that morning I was changing her in her room and she said "Careful or monster will bite you." I said "I don't see any monsters." She pointed at the ceiling and said "Monsters by the temple." I am very intrigued now at what she saw on her ceiling this morning. Then I remembered the night before. Maybe she had seen something real or a vision of some sort and Jesus came to calm her. 

I also considered that she witnessed the battle of good vs. evil in a vision on her ceiling or something of that nature. Whatever it was - it had a happy ending!!  

I am reminded of this scripture

Acts 2:17

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 

It's amazing what the Lord can do. He speaks to those who listen and how he loves little children. There is nothing he can't do and the veil is so thin. I am also reminded of one of my favorite scriptures.


3 Nephi 26:16

16 Behold, it came to pass on the morrow that the multitude gathered themselves together, and they both saw and heard these children; yea, even babes did open their mouths and utter marvelous things; and the things which they did utter were forbidden that there should not any man write them. 

With all that has been happening in our family with dreams and the veil being thin I feel the urgency to finally share the dreams that I had mentioned in previous posts. Clearly the Lord is reaching out to us. Stay tuned. 

Entering God's Kingdom

I went to Frightmares this weekend and couldn't help but notice the hurry that everyone was in. I kept wondering "why the rush" and "what for"? People ran to get in line, they ran to the restrooms, they ran to get a bite to eat and they ran to catch a show. There was so much running going on and so many stimulating distractions that people seemed to be in their own little worlds forgetting about all those around them. You could see it on their faces "what if we don't get there on time?", "what if the line is too long", "what if there aren't enough seats?". You could read it on their minds as they drove strollers over feet, cut in front of people without apologizing, bumped shoulders without any remorse or acknowledgment. Everyone was out for themselves and no one seemed to lend a helping hand to a fellow stranger in need. I myself became an unfortunate victim after waiting in a line for 45 minutes to see a show. Initially were were 6th in line, however that soon began to change as groups of people slowly crept under the ropes and squoze around garbage cans hoping to be unnoticed. Soon a line had formed next to our line and people pushed and shoved to be in the front and slowly work their way into the main line. Everyone in line had a wandering eye letting others know that they better not try anything funny or they'd get what they had coming. I couldn't believe the tension. When the signal was given for the line to file into the seating area I saw grown adults jump over garbage cans, climb gates, and hurl themselves around baby strollers while pushing and shoving their way to get a seat. For being 6th in line we almost did not get a seat, it was complete madness. It was easy to see how quickly people could get trampled and killed is such a stampede as that one.

As I flung my child over the bench in front of us to reserve two seats, people came in from both sides trying to sit on my child and forcefully take my spot. So I jumped over the bench and fought to reserve our spot but was unable to get anyone to slide over for my husband who was behind me. We couldn't even sit together. Suddenly a women to my left leans over and begins to yell at me. "If you hadn't have flown over the bench like a crazy woman I could have had enough room for my entire family!" I noticed that she and her 6 older children who not only took up the entire bench and sat on my child, were also part of the group that butted in line and had sneaked in from the side. I couldn't help but defend myself by saying "We waited in line 45 minutes and were 6th in line and almost didn't get a seat, which isn't fair at all." She rolled her eyes at me and said something under her breath and I though to myself, "How mean. Does she not see my cute little three year old boy? How could she yell at me like that in front of my son? He is so innocent and excited to see the show and didn't need to experience a rude woman like that." It made me sad and I couldn't understand.

Later that night I saw a TV program where grandparents were being publicly harassed and persecuted for a crime their daughter had committed. Complete strangers drove up to their home and threatened to kill them in front of little children. It made me sad and I though "What is this world coming to?"

It was then that I realized why the Savior time and time again taught us in the scriptures to be like little children.

Mark 10:15 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little ^achild, he shall not enter therein."

Matt 19:14 "But Jesus said, ^aSuffer little ^bchildren, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Matt 18:3 "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little ^achildren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. "

Henry B. Eyring said in his talk, “As a Child,” Ensign, May 2006,

"But King Benjamin, who understood as well as any mortal what it meant to be a man of strength and courage, makes it clear that to be like a child is not to be childish. It is to be like the Savior, who prayed to His Father for strength to be able to do His will and then did it. Our natures must be changed to become as a child to gain the strength we must have to be safe in the times of moral peril.

Here is King Benjamin’s stirring description of what that change to become like a child is and how it comes to us:

“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” 6

We are safe on the rock which is the Savior when we have yielded in faith in Him, have responded to the Holy Spirit’s direction to keep the commandments long enough and faithfully enough that the power of the Atonement has changed our hearts. When we have, by that experience, become as a child in our capacity to love and obey, we are on the sure foundation."

I thought about the woman at Lagoon who yelled at me and remembered how later throughout the show she couldn't help but smile at my son who was clapping to the music and winning the hearts of the dancers on stage who kept blowing kisses at him.

Children are so humble and submissive and can bring peace and a smile to stubborn or quick tempered adults. We can learn a lot from our children and must remember that they already have a place in the God's kingdom as they are perfect. We are the ones who have work to do. Instead of getting angry at our neighbor when faced with conflict we need to remember that they once were little children and will always be God's children. When we are quick to love and help our neighbors we become like little children in God's eyes. In the next life it won't matter that we got the seat we wanted but it will matter how we treated others on our way to our seat.

I challenge everyone to pay extra attention to your neighbors and fellow man in all your busy day activities. Let's not be in such a hurry to get from point A to point B that we step on others to get there. Lets be good Samaritans and more like our little ones; meek, submissive and humble.

Good Luck!