Another Year 2015

Heidi 

22 October 1961

19 1/2 inches long

7 lbs. 2 oz.

I recently had a birthday. My birthday is four days after my mother's. So I was in Utah with her this year. Both of our birthdays passed rather uneventfully. We knew that her days were truly numbered, and her greatest desire was to move on in her journey. 

I am still her baby daughter, and I miss her so much. I am thankful for the life that she gave me and the love that I have always felt from her and from my father. It seems that one's childhood is not truly over until his or her parents have passed on. 

I believe that my parents' generation is one of the very best. They were the workers. They gave us everything that we've built upon and we take credit for it. Yet, without them, we are nothing. 

So now with a broken heart, I need to take the torch and carry on. Some have asked me how I am doing. I'm doing well, and I'm not doing well. In fact, I am broken. But I know from past experience, it is when we are broken that the Lord can do the most good with us. So I hang onto that hope, knowing that one day I'll see my mother again, my sister and my brother, my son, my Nana, and my Oma; and all the rest of my family, those in heaven and those still here currently. 

I pray that I'll have the desire to use my energy wisely and do some good in this world, and love the living of it. 

Pledging My Heart and My Hand Again

I learned this little song in Primary as a very young child. It is still a favorite. I am glad that I was privileged to learn about God and about His hand in giving us this great Country. I'm glad that my parents valued teaching me these things. They didn't set aside my learning until they thought I could understand everything or make decisions for myself. They didn't set aside my learning, giving me the “freedom” to choose to learn whatever I wanted to at some future date.

My parents are not natives to this Country, but they are Americans and United States citizens in every other way. They value the opportunities that this Country has given them in the way of religious freedom and individual enterprise. They are thankful for the privilege of rearing their family on the blessed soil granted by God to those who claimed the Lord as God. Their generation is indeed representative of the workers. And we are the beneficiaries of their work.

In third grade, I had a teacher named Miss Nakahara. She was of Japanese descent, and she was one of the most patriotic teachers I've ever met. We learned so many songs about our Country that year. Each day we would begin class with The Pledge of Allegiance and two or three patriotic songs. I learned to love this Country at church, in my home, and at school. And I learned to love God in those three places as well. I am thankful that my school teachers and Primary teachers were able to provide me moral direction.

I remember looking forward to 1976! It was a great big deal. We looked forward to that Bicentennial of The United States of America for many years. What a wonderful milestone for us to witness and to be a part of. I don't know of anyone who didn't love this great land. We rejoiced in it, in the history of it, and in those who safeguarded our freedoms.

I also remember looking forward to the Sesquicentennial of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I wouldn't describe the feelings that I had for these two events as pride; at least, not in the way pride events are celebrated today. I had a sense of security in the history and celebrations of our Country and our Church. There was a sense of belonging and unity, despite diversity. I felt a quietness and a reverence, as well as a thrill and exuberance. I still feel those things when I think about God and country and what those two things mean to me.

Our lives experiences shape us to a great degree. We form a schemata, our personal knowledge storage bank. The things that we learn in our first few years of life can become important tools to us throughout life. The guidance that we receive from parents, leaders, mentors, and teachers can be an invaluable endowment in aiding our ability to form into healthy and happy human beings. Ultimately, it is our personal choices and desires to do well that can propel us forward in our path and progress. If we are taught to love both God and Country, if we are given healthy doses of scripture and history, will these things help mold us into better people, or will they serve to trap or indoctrinate us?

Were my rights infringed upon because I was taught to love God and Country? Absolutely not. Because I had the security of knowing God, of feeling His love for me, and because I had the assurance that this land was a blessed land with a moral destiny, I had the calmness and peace of knowing that I myself could succeed and be happy.

As a very young child, I'd place my hand on my heart and sing the words, “I pledge my heart;” then, I would draw my hand out away from me and sing, “I pledge my hand;” continuing on, “to God, and to my native land. To both of them, I will be true; for, that is what I ought to do.” I could feel the truth and power that these words invoked back then. I could feel the peace and security of making a covenant with God back then, a covenant concerning being faithful to Him and faithful to the cause of freedom that He ordained for me in this great land. I feel it still.

May we all bless the name of our God, and may God bless America.

And If That Mockingbird Won't Sing

And If That Mockingbird Won’t Sing

Part 1:

Our cat has been leaving us far too many presents this spring.

Yesterday my husband was downstairs before me. When I joined him, he told me that he wished he’d had his camera. Two mockingbirds were taunting our cat incessantly. He hadn’t fed the cat yet, so I fed her. Since he plays the organ at church, he left for church before my daughter and me as well.

We were running a bit late, but I thought that we’d make it in time for Sacrament Meeting. When we got in the car though, we saw the mockingbirds pecking at our cat who was just hanging out on the front fence. I decided to get her off the fence, so I went in the house and opened the back door, and she immediately ran to me.

I grabbed some treats to put in her food dish. And that is when I noticed that there were two baby mockingbirds just outside the back door. I’d missed them before, so I don’t know if they were both there or only one of them. Now that would explain the mockingbirds’ behavior. Oh, I was so sad.

I went back to the car and told Christine that we were already too late. I told her that there were two baby mockingbirds outside the back door, and that one of them was still alive. At that point, I knew that we needed to go see how that mockingbird faired and if there was something we could do. If there are hurt animals, Christine will help them.

I put the cat in the bathroom and buried the dead little bird. I got Christine a pair of garden gloves to use in attending to the live bird, but she already had it in her hands when I approached her with them. So I found a pot that had soil in it, laid the gloves on it, making a bed for the wee bird.

Although the bird was scratched in a few places, it is a fighter. It opened its big yellow beak (big in comparison to its small body), searching for free food. We gave it a couple of drops of water. Christine looked in the bramble bush where we thought the nest might be (because the birds seemed to be guarding it), but we couldn’t see anything.

With the cat out of the way, we found a shaded spot next to the bush to put the flower pot, and we left for church. We missed the opening, the sustainings, and even the sacrament; but, at least momentarily, we saved a life. “Is it lawful to save a life on the Sabbath day?”

Upon returning from church, we made it our priority to attend to the baby bird. Still alive. Still wanting food. I tried to grind up some bird seed in water. Not effective. So I also added some whey protein and ground again, and then I strained out the bird seed, just leaving the liquid. The bird took a couple of drops of that.

Bob put the flower pot on one of the pillars to our patio cover, out of the cat’s reach. Christine was still searching for its nest, and not finding it, she was searching for a better location. She didn’t want the bird to survive, only to fall directly into the cat’s mouth as a fledgling.

Before checking on the cat and allowing her back outside, we made a nest out of an Easter basket. Christine had researched what to feed the bird, and I knew it needed protein. She found it should be given egg and cat food. I added an egg to the whey mixture and gave the bird another couple of drops. (It pooped.) We added shredded paper to the basket and weaved yarn into it so that it could be attached to the tree. After adding some grass to the new basket, and positioning it between two branches, we tied it securely with the yarn. Then Christine gently transferred the baby bird to its new nest.

Christine did not want me to check on the bird again, but she continued to search for a nest. An hour or so later, I pulled over the step ladder and checked on the bird. It was still opening wide its mouth and I gave it another drop or two. Mouth closed. I went back inside.

After another hour or so, Christine ran into the house excitedly. She had pinpointed where the nest was in the bramble bush. She had been watching the parent birds and allowed them to lead her to the nest. So then we worked to initiate the transfer. We had to cut the basket out of the tree. By this time the bird wasn’t very active. I think more than anything, it was getting later in the day and the bird was cold. Christine returned her (I keep wanted to write her, and not it, so this time I did) to her nest alongside the two other babies already there. (It had been a typical brood with four babies.)

All evening the mockingbirds still attacked the cat. By bedtime we did not know where she had gone. But the birds were quiet as well, so we had to hope that all were safe for the night.

This morning I was happy not to find any present at the back door. It’s always wonderful to not start out the day with mortification. We worked hard to give that baby a fighting chance. It’s up to the parents and nature now. We really don’t know if it’s maimed and can’t survive or of its parents will reject it. But her wings and legs seemed functional from what we could observe when she was stretching for food.

As soon as I fed the cat this morning, a mockingbird was pecking at her, not allowing her to eat. Hopefully, their revenge won’t bring about their demise; and, hopefully, this little bird family will make it through the season. For now the cat is in the bathroom and would rather be outside.

Part 2:

Lessons in Nature:

Babies come to earth with a desire to live. Parents give and protect life. Predators take life. Parents instinctively defend their families, even at peril to themselves. Parenthood is never about personal convenience.

Sometimes it appears that there is more fierce loyalty in the animal kingdom than among humans. These birds devote their entire lives to nest building, having broods, sustaining life, and protecting their young.

With the very tenderness of the human heart, we can all feel sympathy for the little baby mockingbird. I do not know many who would not hope for the survival of a baby bird and who would not feel saddened to see a bird that had been hurt by the claws of a cat. Yet how many human babies have been aborted? And how many human babies have suffered great atrocities at the hands of their own parents and physician, both of which by very definition should be offering them life and protecting their lives at all costs? And how much greater is a human’s life in the eyes of our Lord?

Let’s allow the babies to have a voice and to hear the mockingbirds sing.

 

Thanksgiving, Family, and the Great Plan of Happiness

Thanksgiving, Family, and the Great Plan of Happiness

I feel honored to be speaking on Thanksgiving week; plus, it is a privilege to be able to speak about families. In a way, I feel like I am giving my own eulogy. This talk will definitely be about my family and about the great Plan of Happiness. You may learn more about me than you wanted to know; but, I hope that what you really leave this meeting with is a greater appreciation for your own family and for our Heavenly Father’s love for us.

Bob and I were privileged to be born into Latter-day Saint homes. By this, I am not just saying that we belonged to Mormon families, but that we belonged to families who were truly trying to live the gospel. Our parents loved the Lord, and they did everything they could to serve Him and to serve their families. I know that my own parents made many sacrifices on behalf of their children, so that we could have the wonderful opportunities that they were not afforded themselves.

I believe that this love from parents to the Lord and from parents to their children extended way back in our family history. Those grandparents, close and further removed, who did not hear the restored gospel in this life or before they reared their families, still wanted to do their very best, and they still felt accountable to God. This is true for most of us here today. From our own current families back to Ephraim (or the Patriarch whose line you tie into), then to his fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; back to Noah, and on back to Adam, parents have cared for their children and wanted the best for them, and they have felt an accountability to God for their actions towards their families.

And so it is with our earthly family. We are all linked together, with Adam and Eve as our first parents. They were overjoyed when they heard the great Plan of Happiness, and they covenanted to be obedient and faithful so that the Atonement would be affective in their lives. But like Adam and Eve, all of their children have had agency. Some have followed the pattern that leads to happiness, and others have not. Satan would have us all believe that all is lost when we stray from the path, but Heavenly Father offered His Son so that nothing is lost. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

It is important that God sent us to live in families here on earth. That is His design. We lived with Him in Heaven during our premortal life, and there He taught us our first great lessons while we lived with Him as His Spirit children. Families are central to God’s plan for our happiness, and He intends for us to seek to live happily together as families now, so that we can be worthy to live as families eternally. His grand mission statement reads as follows, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Eternal life is not only life with God, but it is life like God’s. We will be blessed to have eternal increase, if we enter into the obligations, ordinances, and covenants that are necessary, and if we live up to those covenants, especially in how we treat one another.

I grew up in a family with seven children. My parents were not born in the United States. They were from far different European backgrounds from one another; but, they did have the gospel in common. They were blessed with strong-willed children, and they were strong-willed as well. But they always did their best to provide a loving and happy home. That does not mean that things were perfect. I have the perspective of the middle child. Those who are middle children will know what I mean.

My sister Kathy, who was nearly three years older than me, enjoyed annoying me. I mean it; she really did. One day when I was vacuuming the family room, she kept unplugging the vacuum. To begin with, I was singing while vacuuming. But after she unplugged the vacuum a few times, I lost my temper. Her response was something like, “My, you must be having a bad day.” She never held grudges though.

My brother Ed, who was two years younger than me, had some health issues as a baby and then developed rheumatic fever when he was young. As he grew older, he was just as healthy, if not healthier than the rest of us; but, he was often babied; and I was often asked to do things for him that he should have done for himself. I resented that.

As a youngster, I can remember thinking, I’m not sure that I want our family to be together forever. I was in a hurry to grow up and get out. But as we all continued to grow, we became good friends. These two siblings have returned to heaven, and I can tell you now that I am thankful for the knowledge that I have of the Plan of Salvation. I am grateful for the Lord’s love for me that He would atone for all of us and make it so that our family is a forever family.

When you believe in the gospel plan, you must take the decision of whom to marry very seriously. You will want to marry someone who shares your values, who is equally yoked with you in your understanding of the gospel, and who will be willing to commit all that they have and are to the Lord and to you and your children. And that is why I married my dear Bobby. I knew that he loved the Lord and I knew that he loved his family and he loved me. Also, it helped that his family members were active in the church and supportive of us and our goals. These are important things to consider, since eternity is weighed in the balance.

We have been blessed with six wonderful children. They are bright and capable, and they all have a desire to do what’s right. Like their parents, they aren't perfect; but they are on the right path. Bob and I have also tried to make sacrifices for our family so that each member could progress and excel and be happy. Also, we taught our children the importance of cheering for each other and being proud of each other’s accomplishments. In a family, we should not be contestants to outdo and oust each other, but we should eagerly help and persuade each other to be his or her best.

We have had great joy in watching our children progress from stage to stage. Life is a miracle. And for God to entrust us with his precious spirits, and to give us the time and the lessons to both teach them and to learn with them is the most incredible gift. It’s beyond comprehension. We've made our mistakes, but we've also made our apologies. Isn't it a great thing that our generation as parents has been allowed to apologize to their children and not lose face, but gain more faith and trust in doing so? And since God is so quick to forgive, we should also all be quick to forgive one another.

There are trials in rearing a family. No one can escape them. While some of them are similar for all of us, some are quite different; and all of them give us opportunities for growth. Some families experience health problems; others infertility; some women miscarry many children; some children have real physical or mental or emotional or social problems. But in our own unique families, it is important for us to realize that our combination is right, and God is at the helm.

Our first daughter was born with diastrophic dysplasia. While her dwarfism may have limited some of her life’s choices, it by no means has limited her capacity to grow and excel and be happy. From her early days, she was loved and treated as a capable individual. It was hard to recognize that Cathy was ever really a baby. She has such a mature adult spirit and nature. Bob and I know that we were extra privileged to have her come to our home.

I could brag about my children one by one. But I’ll spare you that today. The main thing about seeking happiness in family life is to remember to have a good attitude. Do all the important things together, especially praying together. The church provides so much good material and direction. Don’t ignore the established program of Family Home Evening. If your little boys are throwing punches, that’s okay; at least you are all together. And they will all learn to value that time. Reread The Family: A Proclamation to the World. It truly is an amazing document of scripture, written by prophets, and inspired by God.

Our family learned in a deeply personal way that families are forever when our fifth child Robert Jr. passed away. Everyone was looking forward to the birth of this dear baby boy, but it was followed closely by his death; and his siblings did not even get to see him alive. But they felt his spirit, and they all had experiences through the power of the Holy Ghost that let them know that Robby was their brother and would be forever. How sweet to hear Eliza, so young and small herself, comforting her little brother Tommy, “You’re still a big brother, Tommy. You’ll always be a big brother.”

Now I have children all over the country. Cathy still live is SLC, Utah. John and his wife are in Florida. Eliza and her husband are in Texas. Tom is in American Fork, Utah. And Christine, are special daughter that completed our family is with us for a short time yet. We can’t all be together for every holiday anymore. But we stay close through praying for one another and talking to each other by phone, by Facebook, and by letter. It is wonderful to see our children making temple covenants and beginning forever families of their own.

When Tom and Whitney got married, Jacob was just one-year-old. Tom loved Jacob from the time he started dating Whitney. And Jacob has always loved his Daddy. It was a wonderful blessing that Jacob’s birth father allowed for Jacob to be sealed to Tom and Whitney on their wedding day. I know that the Spirit was involved in this process, and I will ever be thankful to the birth father for allowing that blessing to take place. After Tom and Whitney were married, the temple sister brought Jacob into the very full sealing room. Little Jacob had the biggest smile on his face as he looked around the entire room from one person to the next. Yes, I believe he felt the significance of that event that day. The Spirit was strong. And Jacob is our first grandchild. Currently, Tom is in the process of adopting him. We are blessed and thankful. And Jacob’s little sister Amanda will be one year’s old in a few days. What a beautiful, loving granddaughter. The titles of “Mom” and “Grandma” or “Hamma” as Jacob says, are the most important titles to me. “Wife” is right up there, too.

I am thankful for family—past, present, and future. I am thankful that God would send us to families and entrust us to have families. May we value each other and live together in love, so that we will ever be privileged to do so.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

High Definition: To Have or Not to Have ADHD, and Does It Matter?

"I have ADHD HD. I've got it in High Definition" (Matt Walsh).

The following is a response to this blogpost written by Matt Walsh.

Here is his POST.

First off: I need to acknowledge that I think ADD and ADHD are real and that many people have benefited by being able to have modern day medication to help them function more normally and live happier, more meaningful, and productive lives. This goes for both children an adults. I also think that it was a catch-all 20 years ago, and has been over-diagnosed. I hope that you can read my response with a grain of salt, because I do not want to belittle your own situation. We all need to follow our hearts and our heads and do what we consider to be the best for our children. Then we need to evaluate and reevaluate over and over again as we put their best interests at the forefront of our lives.

Following is my response to Matt's post:

I like it. While I think that ADHD and ADD exist, I think they are over-diagnosed, and over-treated with drugs. I’ve read many good books on this subject, and exercise and diet are actually the best things that both children and adults should use to help them concentrate better. Many who have to sit at desks, walk or run on their lunch breaks.

I really liked the book The Edison Trait. Because if you think you have ADD or ADHD, but you are still capable of getting A’s and B’s, even if your teacher gets upset because of your exuberance, you don’t have it, and you don’t need medication. When something becomes debilitating, then parents should be concerned about finding out how to best help their child.

Also, parents need to be teaching their children responsibility and accountability, and not letting them think that they don’t need to learn these things, because somehow they are different or exempt; and they also need to let their children know that not having medication is no excuse for bad behavior. Parents should also help teachers know that they support their children being children.

We have had exceptionally bright children. And public school is not always the best place for bright children. "No one left behind" also means, "no one moves ahead." (Even though three of our children skipped grades, this really isn't the same as moving ahead according to one's real talents and interests. Plus, it really isn't dealing with their needs, just passing the challenge on to somebody else.) Yes, smart children will get bored. Finally, we decided to homeschool our last one. Best move ever. She could enjoy learning in a comfortable environment that suited her, and I was blessed to be involved in her education and see her flourish.

We actually did medicate our two sons for a time. Again, in most cases there is no way of knowing if it helps or not, unless you have a child that will chart how they feel from day to day to tell you. It might subdue them to make a teacher’s life more comfortable. But a child should only be medicated if its for his best good, not for his teacher, not for his parents. Exercise, diet, dealing with allergies, and allowing each child to be his unique self is by far more important. In some cases, it is apparent right away that medication is helpful. But it needs to be monitored, the child needs to have medication holidays, and the situation needs to be reassessed again and again.

If medication is even considered, the child should have part in the choice. Our oldest son was very angry about being medicated. And you know what, he had a right to be. It's his body. And he is smart, and creative, and delightful. And he didn't appreciate being told something was wrong with him. So if you choose to medicate, be educated about it, and also help your children be educated. Don't just do so because a teacher thinks your child needs it and passes that information on to your child's doctor.

Thanks, Matt Walsh, for your creative style in High Definition. I am one of those people who could be classified as ADD (probably not ADHD), but I’d rather keep my creativity than always have perfect order. Some days I am on top of it all, and other days, I have to let things go and get in touch with me again. I think the thing that makes us as people least like God is that we are not consistent yet. And maybe we don’t need to be quite yet. Maybe developing our own talents and our own style is what will bring us to our own consistency in due time. And shouldn't parents be supportive of each child becoming his or her best self?

Saturday Evening Session Stake Conference, 3-23-13

3-23-13 Evening Session Stake Conference

(These are my notes; they have not yet been revised.)

President Kinser

Fear of D&C 68:25—Teach your children , or else. If we do not teach them, the sin be upon us.

King Mosiah was given keys of kingdom by father Benjamin. His sons went about trying to destroy the church. His and Alma’s prayers were answered. An angel of the Lord came and gave them a wake up call, changed their lives, and changed the course of many people.

His sons went to teach the Lamanites. He was assured that they’d be delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites, many would believe in their words, and they would have eternal life.

Don't know much about you
Don't know who you are
We've been doing fine without you
But, we could only go so far
Don't know why you chose us
Were you watching from above
Is there someone there that knows us
Said we'd give you all our love

Will you laugh just like your mother
Will you sigh like your old man
Will some things skip a generation
Like I've heard they often can
Are you a poet or a dancer
A devil or a clown
Or a strange new combination of
The things we've handed down

I wonder who you'll look like
Will your hair fall down and curl
Will you be a mama's boy
Or daddy's little girl
Will you be a sad reminder
Of what's been lost along the way
Maybe you can help me find her
In the things you do and say

And these things that we have given you
They are not so easily found
But you can thank us later
For the things we've handed down

You may not always be so grateful
For the way that you were made
Some feature of your father's
That you'd gladly sell or trade
And one day you may look at us
And say that you were cursed
But over time that line has been
Extremely well rehearsed
By our fathers, and their fathers
In some old and distant town
From places no one here remembers
Come the things we've handed down

Marc Cohn
But you can thank us later
For the things we've handed down . (Mr Cohn)

It was his belief that in every generation, the parents become better parents.

Reflect on your role as a parent. What are you handing down? What kind of parent are you going to be?

One cannot conceived of a parent not being interested in everything that pertains to his children…(Richard L. Evans)

How do we strengthen our families in the gospel and hand down the truths that we know?

We can’t force them to hold to the

Must have the faith to teach our children and bid them to keep the commandments. Our worthiness is not determined by their choice of whether or not to keep the commandments.

Our faith, prayers, and …will be consecrated for the good of their children.

Proclamation in regards to the raising of these children. (The discharge, not the acceptance.)

Help them understand that we will love them always.

Just as Adam sought the counsel of the Lord, so our children seek our counsel, even when it seems that they do not want it. When the prodigal returned, he knew that his father wouldn’t reject him, because he knew his father. Have open hearts and arms for all your family members. They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

He told his children about the crucifixion and the nails driven through the hands and feet of the Savior. He had the opportunity to let his children know that he knew it was true. As family likens scriptures to themselves, they will learn to trust the Lord. They will know that they are children of God, have the sword of faith and the shield of …

That Brandon is just heart-headed about the way he lives his life. He told the coaches that there behavior was not appropriate; the team expected more with them. He learned how to communicate with respect as a result of serving a mission.

As faith in the Lord grows in our families, our homes will become a haven from the world. We need to ensure that our homes maintain a contrast between what we see in the world.

Sacred nature of family; greatest joy in families; not greater work.

Sister Suzanne Ewell

Just sent her first missionary on a mission. Song—A young man prepared.

Mothers who raised young men prepared—Army of Helaman. They paid tribute to their mothers. They had buried their weapons and past mistakes deep in the earth. They made covenants.

We must honor our covenants so that our children and youth understand covenant keeping. We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

The responsibility of parents has never required more diligence.

One of my greatest blessings has to be a mother. We need righteous women to bring children into their homes.

Nothing will be so important as the question of how your children turned out. (Hinckley)

Obey every word of commandment with exactness and honor. Helaman would not allow their parents to break their covenant. They sent their sons to war with faith in Christ.

Attending church week after week helps to develop stripling warriors.

As we do things consistently in our lives, we are adding a drop to the oil of our lives and our children’s lives. (Joy in first son passing sacrament. That’s the point.)

Mary Fielding Smith’s 9-year-old had to lead the oxen team. He was successful. In their home in SL Valley, they ate together and studied scriptures. Out of this home, came two prophets. It takes courage to meet our expectations of being good parents. We need to practice righteous patterns consistently in our homes.

Mothers should teach children about prayer. Let your children see you praying. She loved her mother for her faith and for seeing her pray. Miracles were performed in their family’s life because her mother had faith.

We need to expect our children to do hard things. Have the courage to expect something of our kids and not let them off easy.

We need women who are tender and kind and refined and faith and goodness and virtue and purity.

If we don’t teach our children, the world will. It’s worth it; don’t give up. These little children are learning a lot, and Satan is not able to tempt them, so don’t miss the opportunity.

As mothers, we have a great work to do; by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass.

Sister Sandy Kerr

Attentive, reverent, sweet Spirit here.

It takes many hands to make the temple run smoothly.

Saints that received their own endowment today. Each of us has a story; we have entered the path to lead us back to our home.

Temple work is all about families. As work is done vicariously for our brothers and sisters, one by one, the Lord is pleased. It is a privilege to do the Lord’s work in any capacity. Covenants empower us to do things beyond our own abilities.

Her feelings of inadequacy. Satan, the destroyer, cannot create, so he spends his time trying to destroy: depression, despair… The Savior always has more power. We can rise above these things as we put our trust in the Savior. The temple helps. His Spirit is there; personal revelation is received there; answers to problems. Please come to the temple. The gifts of the Spirit are abundant in that holy place.

Lives are changed as people make commitments to come to the temple. Your lives will be better as you invest time in the temple. Reality of Savior and His work; we all have the opportunity to be engaged in this work, and to feel of his power. May we take advantage.

President Nolan Kerr

Participated in ROTC in college. 6-week summer camp, army camp in Washington. Rifle training. (Hit first, second target. Young man behind him called out miss. Third same thing. The young man in next fox hole is getting credit. He has been shooting down the other young man’s range than down his own range.) If we are lined up on the wrong targets in our lives, it doesn’t matter how successful we’ve been, when the time comes to tally up the score, we will not have scored very well.

One of the most important targets for us is the temple. Prepare to receive own endowment. Line up better, and attend more often.

Elder Scott—Don’t let things of world crowd in and take higher priority than the important things. Satan would have us fill our lives with “good” things, so that there is not time of essential things. Ordinances of the temple are essential; we cannot return to God’s glory without them.

Water your grass so that the roots go deep.

If we are not going to the temple and remembering the covenants that we’ve made, we are just living on the mists and not developing roots; and when trials come, it will be stripped away.

April 1929—Orson F. Whitney Eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for the valiant causes in the cause of truth, will save them and their posterity. Pray for careless and disobedient children…hold on, trust on, until you see the salvation of God.

Sean Goodrich

He just lost his hear and doesn’t know where it is. Challenges. He knows temple blessings are important. You will receive answers there; even if they are not expected. You will feel the Spirit in the ways you can’t anywhere else. Savior died for us so that we can all be saved. He will help you if you pray and come to Him honestly. You don’t have to be perfect to receive blessings and to have His love in your life. The scriptures will guide us and help us. It will give you want you need at that time. It will give you the instructions that you need, that you cannot receive anywhere else.

Sister Rogerson

I lost my heart, too.

She was inactive for a time. She has two children. Four years ago, she met her husband. Her daughter wanted to know why they couldn’t go into the temple. She explained, and her daughter said, “Let’s do this.” They began the missionary lessons. They started going to church. Her husband started going to church with them. Two years ago, he began missionary lessons. They got married one day; he was baptized the next. Last month they were sealed. Temple prep classes were amazing. They are trying to be there every week. So grateful that her daughter wanted the lessons, and that they had great sister missionaries to give them the lessons.

Sister Garnes

Heart pounding for two that preceded her. So grateful for good spirits, and their desire to bear testimony on such short notice.

The counsel we’ve received tonight is what we need to know to strengthen our families and put our families on the path to eternal life. Take it home and implement it.

As I have been obedient, attended the temple, listened to the Spirit. Every opportunity for our success.

Her mother just passed away. During a mission (president), two of their sons between inactive. Given set of scriptures, continue on mission, continue declare what is true. The laborer is worthy of his hire; her family would return. Because of temple covenants, her parents will retrieve their children.

Intruders in home; husband slept; she prayed. Cautioned not to wake husband again. Spirit said not to. Crawl over him and get to phone. Call operator and whisper help.; Cautioned not to do it. Third, crawl out window and run to neighbors; Cautioned not to do it. Crawled back into bed; put covers over head. Nothing happened. Lucky that there was no confrontation. Good thing that they did what they did. Her first reaction was to do something.

We will have intruders every day of our lives; people will want to come into our homes and destroy our peace; we are bombarded. Vital to lives, physically and spiritually. Pay attention to the Spirit and do what is directed. Keep the invaders from coming in and penetrating our safety.

What can I do to protect my children so that I can bring them back to thee? Dream—beams created a Z on front door: family prayers; scriptures; family home evening. Those are the things that will keep the world out of our homes; latch the door to keep our homes holy, peaceful, and a place of refuge.

The Lord loves us and He is grateful for the saints who are trying so hard.

Her son sent out letter about genealogy. A lady with name Garnes in line gave them 76,000 names of work to do in the temple. The Lord loves his people; He is trying in every way to recover us; we have a responsibility to make it happen. Hold on, be obedient, be committed.

Elder Garnes

Married 37 years. Thankful for how she raised children and continues to raise him. Bright light; vision for what they should be and where they should go.

President Garvin is a humble and strong man at the same time. Blessed to hear him counsel and bear testimony to members of the stake. He is a man of God, called of God; he is leading the stake in a righteous way; the way the Lord would lead if He were here Himself.

Everything that’s been said here tonight is true and wonderful.

Bear testimony of personal things; principles and doctrines that they are living. It is who they are, disciples of Jesus Christ. They wouldn’t be able to bear their testimonies without living it.

Grateful for the Ewels and their righteous example. Getting to the Celestial Kingdom is all about doing the hard thing. Prove to Heavenly Father that we can follow Him when it is easy and when it’s hard.

It take trust, trust in the Lord. 1 Nephi 4—Ready to go back and get plates. Two times, driven out, lost their possessions. Nephi went back. I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things that I should do.

We’ve all been in that place. We may have thought impossible. Nevertheless, went forth. First step, when we don’t know what to do—Trust in Lord.; Things will work out.

Packer—Need to walk to edge of light; take step into darkness; with that faith, the Lord will light the way just a bit so we can find our way. He will not light the way until we show our trust.

Those things that are impossible with men, are possible with God.

Parents, from Park City, moved to Los Angeles. Didn’t fit in, inactive 12 years. They became active. He didn’t know anything but active parents. They served in the church. Wonderful parents. Journeyman. The private in the army. Did the work; not a lot of recognition. His dad called to be Bishop at 65-years-old. Served 5 years. Just before age not to go on mission; Stake President called them in to release as Bishop and call them on a mission. “We’ll think about it.”

Dad said they should go to temple and pray about it. Mother, “I don’t want to go to the temple and pray about it.” They reconciled new path and served a mission. They enjoyed it. South Carolina. Set example for family: this is who we are. Family culture. We are teacher our children and then grandchildren that this is who we are: we serve missions.

Daughter said she didn’t want to go on mission. But I feel like the Lord wants her to go and that she should go. The Lord blessed her for doing the hard thing.

Faust—I am grateful for those experiences that I had wished I didn’t have.

Be grateful for trials in our lives. We are better people because of the hard stuff.

Seldom has found success in the first mile; but has often found great success in the second mile. First effort is an expression of our desire to do a duty; if we pursue it to produce fruit, the second mile is usually done out of love. Put forth effort; more difficult. Endure to the end. Don’t give up on each other. 3 Nephi 18:32—Don’t cast them out; unto such shall you continue to minister. They may return and repent, and I shall heal them. Not giving up on each other. Wonderful to be a part of relations when others are converted. Grateful for the encouragement we find in sharing the gospel.

Elder Cook, October conference: Talking to leaders around world. Church is doing well in general sense.

One challenge—living in world that is increasingly wicked.
Concerned about apathy and lack of commitment with some members. Lack of commitment.

Deepen our conversion and commitment to the Lord.

No outside worldly support for problems with chastity: immorality and pornography. We need to be teaching in our homes.

The Lord and Savior loves us all; He will bless us as we serve in the Church and teach in our homes. He will fill in the gaps and teach us the way. Treasure up words of life; given to us in very hour we need. We will know what to say and do. Thankful for prophet and his vision to guide us. They lead this Church today according to the will of the Lord.

My Parents are Missionaries

My father and mother have served three full-time missions together. Prior to that, Dad served a mission in Germany and numerous stake missions.

My parents served in Yerevan, Armenia. They helped so many people there. Dad helped get heaters working and did all kinds of physical labor service. They both loved and served the people. But their visas never came through, and so they were transferred to Kharkov, Ukraine. There they continued to serve and love the people of that country.

For their next mission, they were called to oversee the building of the Kiev Temple. Unfortunately, that did not happen during their mission, but took another ten years. Once they met a man who told them of a senior couple who'd been called to oversee the building of a temple in Ukraine, but who had failed in their assignment. My mother said, "Oh? That would be us!" Did they fail? Of course not. They weren't in Kiev to help prepare a temple for the people, but to help prepare the people for a temple.

Their last mission was to Samara, Russia.

They have numerous stories. They touched thousands of lives. That's the way with missionary work and it's ripple effect. Dad was in mission presidencies. They suffered extremely cold conditions and had meager amounts of food, and they traded their comfortable big home for small apartments.

I'm proud of my parents and the example that they've set for me and for the legacy they've given to our family. Dad was (and still is) self-employed and he's exhausted all of his savings to serve the Lord. Between each mission, he'd earn enough money to go serve again. Now nearly 82, he still is working. (1-25-13 He turned 83 last November.)

They have been temple workers for many years. Mom is sad that her current health won't allow her to serve in the temple, and hopes to be able to return again. (1-25-13 Lately, they are both serving one day a week, no longer two.)

One of the greatest blessing of my parents life was attending the Kiev Temple Dedication. In the ceremonies prior to the dedication, they were able to visit with people from the four different mission areas where they served. The people were so happy to see them, and my parents were blessed by the love and gratitude they were shown.

God loves us. He loves all of his children. What a blessing it is that as members of His Church; we can serve each other at home and abroad. I'm thankful for missionaries and for missions. I hope that Bob and I will have the opportunity to serve together as well. (We have done so as stake and ward missionaries in the past. 1-25-13 I have been called as a ward missionary again.)

27 September 2017:

Dad, I wrote this first in September 2011. I am so thankful for the example that you and Mom set for me in serving in the Church and loving Heavenly Father and all His children. I need to do better in serving. I’ve enjoyed the time that I serve in the California Redlands Mission office. And I am again a ward missionary. 6^th time now I think. I know there is an added boldness that comes with the assignment to teach and share the gospel, and I often see Mom’s and your personality shining through when I share the gospel. I love you so much. I miss Mom. I know you miss her more. I’m sure that she is happy in the service that she is doing there helping to strengthen our families. I love you.
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