Missionary Work and Honored Blessings

When my sister's child was born in April 2002 with severely limited mental and physical capacities, she was told her baby would most likely only live for days. The father gave his son a blessing. Days then became a few weeks, which turned into maybe a few months to maybe two years.

(Kevin drinking a rootbeer float in Derek's honor, as he prepares to serve in Brazil.)

By August of that first year our brother turned 19 and began preparations to serve his mission. The following July our parents began their three year mission in Florida; then as they were released they were asked to serve another three year mission in the Boston temple. Following their release, my nephew passed away.

(Roger with a new companion in Panama.)

I believe his earthly life was miraculously extended as a blessing to his family in part because of this service. "...I, the Lord...delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth..." (DC 76:5) I believe Heavenly Father honored the prayers of all those given in behalf of baby Ben as his life was 8 wonderful years. What a blessing of the gospel, that Heavenly Father so willingly showers us with his love through our obedience, willingess, and service.

Being Spiritually Prepared

When I think of self-reliance, and being prepared I remember when our in-the-ground food cellar was flooded with spring rains. Mother was determined to save her food storage, and called upon her young children to help her. When we saw that the water level had reached the stairs, with only the top shelf of food showing above the water, and the water swarming with swimming frogs, we were less than enthusiastic. But we were convinced, for a mere popsicle, that the food needed saving and it became a memorable experience carrying out canning jars, buckets and frogs. Having food storage made me feel safe and prepared. I also think of being woken at 5:00 a.m., unwillingly, to go to weed and irrigate our garden on a piece of land donated by a farmer. Knowing we knew how to grow our own food, not just store it, made me feel safe and prepared. When I began an early morning scripture class and started studying the scriptures for myself, I realized I needed to not only take care of my physical body but my spirit as well. "How do I store food for my spiritual needs?" was a question I pondered as I thought about becoming spiritually self-reliant. While in college, reading scriptures and praying made me feel safe. Now I have children and know that also holding family home evening, paying tithing, attending the temple, honoring the Sabbath day, and serving others can also make me feel safe and prepared. But is that all we can do to be safe and prepared during stormy and turbulent times? When Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel he announced, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Can you imagine feeling everything Mary felt? The scriptures say Mary was "troubled at his saying," and that she "cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be." She also questioned, "How shall this be?" My point is that Mary obviously had done everything she needed to do to be spiritually prepared for stormy and turbulent times in her life, such as being the mother of the Savior. This is indicative merely by Heavenly Father's selection of her. So after absorbing the Angel's message, she said, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." She could only trust in Heavenly Father, to allow this complex situation to be a blessing in her life.

Stewardship

There is a miniature horse in the field next to our house. The owner of the field was looking for a small horse for his grandson and came into contact with a man who had rescued this horse from a very abusive situation, but only had a small shed in which to keep the horse. So in exchange for building a fence and erecting a small barn, my neighbor was allowed to board the horse for his grandson. The horse, having only known abuse, and small quarters was brought to a beautiful 1/2 acre of green grass, with a mound in the middle, a new clean barn with hay, and large bouncy balls for toys. He received attention and love more than once a day, and was joyful to watch run and play in his new home.

It's been close to a year now since the horse arrived, and it's changed. He gnaws at the fence trying to unhitch the latch, escapes frequently, and is often kicking at the fence. I wonder how the horse could have forgotten its previous, miserable conditions, and the joy he had when he was first introduced to his new home where everything he could ever need was given to him.

Sometimes I feel we as members of the church can easily fall into this trap of the miniature horse. We're blessed with the gospel, which provides us with everything we'll ever need, yet we kick at the fence wanting more.

Elder Quentin Cook spoke on stewardship this past General Conference and said, "It is easy to confuse our priorities. Some individuals place undue priority on temporal and material possessions. Some are far less diligent in their efforts to immerse [themselves or] their children in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Having religious observance in the home is as important as providing food, clothing and shelter. We also need to [develop and] help our children develop their talents. We are responsible for the talents we have received. Children who are not taught that they are accountable for their time and talents are increasingly subject to the foolishness and unrighteousness that are so pervasive in the world."

There is a song my boys learned last year, called My Eternal Family. It goes,

I am a builder working each day to build my family.

And I will do the best that I can to serve them lovingly.

I am a builder growing so tall and learning every day

to speak with kindness in my home, to help at work and play.

My Heavenly Father sent me here and He knows I can be

strong and righteous as I build my eternal family.

This song made me think of my father, a few years ago, who was building a small shed out of wood. Having spread all the boards and toolos over the picnic table, as a workbench, attracted the attention of my then 3 year old son. He wanted to know what was going on and he wanted to help. My father reluctantly gave him scrap wood and nails and offered the picnic table bench as a little work bench. He said, "Porter, go ahead and hammer the nails in these boards." Surprised at how adept Porter was with the hammer, Dad cheered him on. "Wow, Porter, you really are doing a great job with the hammer!" When my father returned the following day to put on the door to the shed he realized that all the scrap pieces of wood had been nailed through to the benches. He later told me he was going to leave those boards nailed to the benches so when all who sat would ask why, and he would remember the day Porter taught him that children are always watching and following our example, and we need to always be doing the right thing at the right time.

May be strive to be that builder who, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants 51:19, "is found a faithful, a just, and a wise steward," and "shall enter into the joy of the Lord," surely including a really large green pasture with bouncy balls.

Whisperings of the Spirit

When I was asked to speak on the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, I asked them why these whisperings hadn't told me that day, as I walked up to and down from the organ, that my skirt had been left unzipped. There are conditions that must exist first, to receive these promptings.

Recently we were returning home from out of state and while traveling got off the interstate for lunch. When we returned to the interstate, we did not realize we were going the wrong way. We traveled in this direction for a mile or two, when we saw a sign for Hagerstown, MD. Wondering why this would be in front of him when clearly it was suppose to be behind us, he began to look very seriously for clues as to the direction in which we were traveling. Jarrod was looking for an interstate sign that would show him whether or not we were going east or west. We tried finding the names from other signs we passed, on the map to determine where we were. We were even wondering about the position of the sun. Then we remembered the car's internal compass. When we realized we were headed in the wrong direction we began to look for a way to turn our car around. It seemed like miles! that we had traveled in the wrong way and back to where we made the original mistake. The Holy Ghost works in a similar way. There are warnings and promptings that are given to help us travel in the right direction and travel aids in the way of scriptures and the temple that work like today's GPS, or yesterday's road map. If we fail to heed to or not even notice the influence of the Holy Spirit, or have lost control over our body through bodily appetites or addictions, we will not be able to make the necessary course corrections. We need to be in a quiet place, in the right frame of mind, in a worthy state to receive promptings. There are places where it is easier to feel the Spirit. General Conference and the temples are some, as is being in our homes while praying and reading the scriptures.

We also know that "while the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil," the right to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost comes as members are given the gift by the laying on of hands by those who have the proper authority (Moroni 7:16).

I believe that because this power and gift comes from Christ, it resembles the voice of Christ. In Helaman 5:30 it describes the voice of Christ as a "still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul." Other scriptures as well as prophets teach what this constant companionship feels like. The Lord tells us "I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost (DC 8:2). Enos stated that "the voice of the Lord came into [his] mind again (1:10). Joseph Smith said, "When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas." President Eyring described the influence of the Holy Ghost as "peace, hope and joy." But, the Holy Ghost is not always easy to discern. The Book of Mormon tells of faithful Lamanites, "because of their faith at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not (3 Nephi 9:20).

My son Hunter, as we were all headed out the door to an outing in Austin, asked me if he could bring one dollar. I reassured him we'd have all the costs covered, but asked why he wanted to bring a dollar. He said, "I don't know." Later in the day, we were walking back to our car and Hunter found a dollar bill on the sidewalk. As we were talking about what to do, whether or not to pick it up, we were approached by a man, obviously poor, very parched, asking for a dollar to get a bus ride back home. Hunter handed him the dollar, looked at me, and said, "Mom, I knew I needed to bring a dollar." We both knew Heavenly Father had provided Hunter with that dollar bill so he could serve this man. Even after I said no. How often do we prevent our family from these kinds of teaching moments, or spirit strengthening experiences because we fail to recognize the promptings of the spirit? "Verily, verily, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good - yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit (DC 11:12). This was Hunter.

John 14:26 says, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance." Because I don't remember Heaven, Heavenly beings, or actually much from last year, it's hard for me to understand the atonement, Christ's sacrifice, his suffering. The sacrament becomes a time and place for me to reflect on this, and as it says in the sacrament prayer, "to always remember Him." Participating in the sacrament ordinance helps keep us worthy of receiving the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I feel Heavenly Father blesses me with a drop or two of oil, or understanding, each week, if I fully participate in this sacred, weekly ordinance. This is similar also to participating in the ordinances of the temple, and being taught there. As I was reflecting on all of these things, and trying to understand how and why Heavenly Father, could and would allow these things to happen to His Son, I realized in a very small way I was giving up, sharing, sacrificing my son Tanner, in a short time, to serve for two years on a mission. While this thought caused the fabric of my heart to tear in a small way, it helped me not only understand how Heavenly Father could allow His Son to be our Savior, it also allowed me to share a miniscule amount of the pain Heavenly Father felt as well. These teachings, sacred to me, were possible through the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost.

Vicki Matsumori, in the General Primary Presidency, testified that, "When we come to understand the whisperings of the Spirit, we will be able to hear Him teach us the peaceable things of the Kingdom and all things what we should do. We will recognize answers to our prayers and know how to live the gospel more fully each day. Most importantly, we will feel Him witness to us of the Father and the Son."