Keep the Weeds out of your Life

So we've been coming and going a lot this summer and I have neglected weeding the flower spot in the front of my house. It has mostly looked like just cheat grass growing over and around the few flowers that bloom in the hot summer months in St. George. Dan usually takes care of the weeding around the rest of the house and Lindsey has always been my flower garden weeder.  I don't like weeds or weeding.

Dawson has been bringing friends over to the house a lot lately so I broke down and bought a new welcome mat and decided it was time to weed the flower garden spot. You either have to get out early in July at like 6:00 am or do it after the sun goes down. I chose the later because the garden is on the East side of the house so the blaring sun was not a factor about 8:30 pm.

I began weeding by just bending over and pulling out the weeds with my bare hands; it looked like mostly grass. After a few pulls, I realized that because I had waited so long to pull the grass, it had now produced those nasty, pesty, clinging, prickly spurs that latch onto you and never let go! They are like fish hooks that attach to your skin and are very painful to remove. They have popped many a bike tire over the years that we have lived in St. George.

When I looked down at my clothes, I realized that there were about 20 attached to my body. Then when I stepped to shake around and try to remove them, I found that there were 20 or more stuck to the bottom of my flip flops! Now I realized that this job was going to require the use of gloves, a shovel and a big garbage can to deposit the noxious weeds into.

I painstakingly picked each burr from my clothes, arms and flip flops, gathered the necessary tools to complete the job, most importantly the gloves and began the job again. Some of those pesky burrs would even prick me through the thick work gloves. An hour later, with sweat running down my brow, I completed the job and swept up all remaining evidence from the porch and walk way. I even vacuumed the front entry and front room carpet to make sure that none of the painful burrs were carried into my home. If you've ever stepped on one of those barefoot, you know that every precaution to avoid the burr trap is worth it.

As I reflected on my neglected task and how much more difficult the weeds became to remove, the longer I waited, I realized that it is a lot like the little weeds that creep into our lives. When little mistakes and sins start popping up in your life, it is best to go after them immediately and get rid of them, before they grow into something bigger that is harder to get rid of. If I would have taken care to pull the few weeds that start to show up weekly, I wouldn't have to deal with the hard job that comes from letting the task become too large and overwhelming.

That is the beauty of renewing our covenants weekly in Sacrament meeting as we partake of the sacrament. We are able to reflect on our sins of the week, ask for forgiveness, commit to not making those same mistakes again and then start fresh again each week.  Prevention and checking in each week helps us keep from letting our habits and mistakes, bad feelings and anger build into something that is much harder to get rid of.

Thus is the parable of the weeds.

Choose the Right Path and the Atonement

Elder Brian Angell, Andrew's friend from high school posted this story on his missionary Facebook page as part of his proselyting. It is a story learned from hiking with our family in the Subway in Zion. 

     "The right path isn't always the easiest path to take, but it is far more rewarding in the long run. Once while hiking with my friend Andrew, I learned this lesson. He had invited me to do a rather treacherous hike in Southern Utah, a hike you need a permit for. He had an extra slot on the permit, so he invited me to go with his family and some other friends. On one part of the hiking trail, me, Andrew, Sam, and Gabe came to a fork. One path offered a steep, difficult descent into a valley to continue, and the other path was very easy and clear. We surveyed the two paths, including the rocky terrain of the treacherous descent, and the much smoother and easier path off to the right. Andrew told us he knew for a fact that the way to continue was down the steep, uneasy terra firma, but he did not know if the other way led back to the trail we needed to be on. We came to the conclusion that Andrew and Gabe would go down the steep descent, and that me and Sam would try the easy way, which I readily went down because I wanted to go the easy way. Me and Sam walk down this path for a half hour, and the trail starts to disappear. We stop to look around and find the trail, and kept seeing what we thought was a trail but it just turned out to be a regular looking, untouched patch of ground. I pointed to the direction that we had been going this whole time, and suggested we continue going in the general direction despite the fact that there was no longer a trail. Soon enough, shoe prints disappeared and the only tracks in the area were those of elk and deer in the area.

An hour after our separation from the group, me and Sam found ourselves facing a hill that was composed of very loose rock and no vegetation. The hill was too steep to get up, and we could not go around to the right, so I said to Sam, "I will try to get around this to see if there is a path on the other side. I am light weight and long, so I will have an easier time getting over the loose rock" This particular hill was in our way from continuing our current path, and we could not go down the mountain now because we were now in between a forest and a drop. The only way way either back the way we came, or around this hill of loose rock because the mountain had ceased to become able to hike down, it had become nearly a cliff. I started to traverse across the loose rock, when I started to slip. There was only a couple of bushes to grab onto, and since they were the only thing to keep me from sliding down the rest of this hill down to the deadly cliff, I grabbed onto the bushes, giving me numerous cuts on my hands. But you know what, I didn't care about the cuts because the bush had saved me.

 As I was planted there on this steep hill, I turned to look across the valley behind me. I was frantically searching for Andrew and Gabe, but could not seem to find either of them. Finally, I saw a red speck across the valley on the mountain. It was Gabe's shirt! I yelled across with as much projection as I could muster so my voice could span the mile gap that separated us. They spotted me in the predicament that I was in, and quickly communicated that if I was to continue, the only thing awaiting me on the other side of this hill that I tried to traverse was a cliff and nowhere to go. I got myself off this hill as soon as I could and told Sam that there was only one way back, and that was the way we came.

 We started off going back to where we first split and after a while, we found a trail again. We started running, and eventually found our way back to our original choice: the path that looked very easy, or the path that looked more difficult. Considering our experiences on the path that we went down we gladly took the descent down into the valley. We found our way to Andrew and Gabe eventually, and were glad to be alive, no matter how bruised and cut up we were.

This is like life. We are faced with decisions all the time, some harder to make than others. Sometimes, the wrong path looks easy at first and the right one is easy. But then you continue down that wrong path and it gets more and more difficult, and eventually you find yourself lost. You continue in the general direction even though you are lost, and soon enough you find yourself sliding towards the deadly cliff edge to face the destroyer, that devil who has been the author of all lies from the beginning. He is waiting for you to slip off that edge where he has been leading you to this whole time. Suddenly, you find yourself with less choices than you had at the beginning. The only way to stop yourself from slipping is a sharp, dry bush. You can choose to grab onto the bush and get hurt, or you can choose to keep slipping towards your death.

 My advice if you find yourself in such a situation in life: Grab the bush. It will hurt and you'll end up bleeding, but it is a small price to pay. Stopping yourself will hurt, but it is a necessary step. Then, you need to pause and seek for help beyond your own. Gabe's red shirt was a mile away, but I could still see it. I turned and yelled for their assistance, to which they readily gave what they could from the distance that I had created. I had only one option at that point, to turn around and take the necessary steps to get back to the correct path.

No matter how far down the wrong path you are, stop before it ends you. Gabe's red shirt, or the Atoning blood of Christ, will be within sight when you seek it. He will be a beacon for you, and He will help you. 2nd Nephi 31:21 teaches us that "this is the way, and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God." Christ's arm of mercy is ALWAYS extended towards us. He wants you and I to have eternal life, and the only way is through the Atonement. I have a testimony of the Atonement and I know of it's power. It is the only way we can be forgiven and be made clean.

 I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Brian Angell

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The Value of One Soul

Dan has to give the 5th Sunday lesson to the youth today in church. He is teaching them to avoid giving labels to people and to treat them as they really are: sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. I thought of two letters from sister missionaries, who are Andrew's friends, that I had read this week that expressed this thought about the value of one soul.

"So last time I told you that I couldn't understand any of our investigators, but I've been making progress! Hallelujah for the gift of tongues. The hardest one to understand is an African guy named Bruno, but our last couple of lessons went really well, and he even brought a couple friends to church last Sunday. I've also gotten lots better at talking to people. That was probably what I was afraid I would have the most trouble with, but the Lords looking out for me. This helped me a lot, It’s from a talk that M. Russell Ballard gave called "The Atonement and the Value of One Soul"

"Brothers and sister, I believe that if we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God. I believe our Heavenly Father's everlasting purpose for His children is generally achieved by the small and simple things we do for one another. At the heart of the English word atonement is the word one. If all mankind understood this, there would never be anyone with whom we would not be concerned, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or social or economic standing. We would strive to emulate the Savior and would never be unkind, indifferent, disrespectful, or insensitive to others."

 That has definitely struck me on my mission. I've met people from completely different backgrounds than mine and been unsure of what to do, except try to love and help them. And it's the same for everyone we meet. It’s by the small and simple things, and we can all do small and simple things. So do your best to help family, friends, or strangers, the atonement applies to EVERYONE, including you :) There was lots of cool stuff in that talk, I would definitely recommend it.

Sis. Miri Reber

Minnesota, Minneapolis mission

When I was in Lima I wrote that the people had won my heart. Now that I have a little bit more time, I want to explain what happened. I finally learned two lessons that I should have learned a long time ago, and I think it's pretty sad that I had to move to Peru to figure these out.

1: It's not about me.

2. I don't need to take myself so seriously.

It started with a man named Luiszea. He was the first person I met when I got here. He is a recent convert of my companion before I got here, and he has a little booth set up in the streets everyday where he fixes watches. The first words I ever heard him say were to my companion "What happened to your other companion?" Being me, I instantly put a wall up and was certain that he hated me. He never, ever talked to me and I wouldn't try to say much because I thought he didn't want to talk to me. In my rotten head, I thought that it made matters worse that he bought us coconuts almost every single day because I have never liked to drink coconut milk.

Then, as I sat in a lesson with him for the first time, I had a huge realization. He wears the exact same outfit every single day. He sits at his little booth, but I've never really seen him have business. When I spoke to him, he looked surprised and I had the strongest feeling that the reason he hadn't spoke to me before was because he thought I didn't speak Spanish and didn't want to embarrass me.

Words cannot describe the way that my heart broke. Here I was thinking this man hated me when every day, this man who has absolutely nothing insists on buying me a treat. To make matters worse, I was always silently complaining that he was doing it. I felt awful for who I was and how I was only thinking about myself and I was putting walls up to these people who had done nothing but love me. Yes, I talk to him quite a bit now and I sure as heck ENJOY my coconut.

After I came to the realization of how selfish I had been, I prayed super hard to have a better perspective. Heavenly Father helped me realize that the members here are on my side. I've been working so hard thinking I needed to prove myself to them when really they already accept me. They laugh at me often, but why do I need to take myself so seriously and get offended? They treat me like they treat family. They laugh and joke, but most of all they love. I just got a completely new perspective of the whole world that week.

It's funny how things can change. One Sunday I was standing in the church crying my eyes out to Elder Gondara saying that everyone hates me. The following Sunday I was sharing my testimony and sincerely thanking people for showing their love to me. No, the whole world didn't magically change in one week. I changed.  Here I was thinking everyone else was the problem, when really the problem was myself and all I needed to do was change my heart, and I feel like I'm leaving in a totally different world right now.

I LOVE THESE PEOPLE. At lunch one day, one sister in the ward literally got choked up when I told her how delicious her food was. I asked one man how his son was doing and he lit up and thanked me for asking as if I had just handed him a grand gift. 

When my blood sugar was low one Sunday night and I got super shaky, my companion made a phone call and in just a few minutes a sister in the ward was there with a full on meal for the both of us.

We gave a case of Spanish Hymns CDs to a lady and she cried like it was a big deal. When someone was missing yesterday that was supposed to give a talk, I was the first person the President came to and after I had so many people coming up to me and thanking me and telling me how beautiful it was.

When I was in Lima, we were talking with this sister and she was having a really hard time and she and I really hit it off as I shared experiences where I had to trust in the will of the Lord and shared a scripture or two. As I left, she hugged and kissed me and started crying and looked me in the eyes and said "I am different because you were in my house today."

I finally understand my calling. I want to make a difference in these people. Not because it's my calling, but because I love them."

Love Always,

Hermana Simonson

Peru, Lima mission

Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?

Earlier this week, I enjoyed watching a music video that someone else had shared on Facebook. I enjoyed the words and music so much that day, that I shared in on my Facebook page with the question, "Well, have you?" This is the link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIeA_5yYgB4

I didn't give much thought to it, other than I needed the reminder, because I hadn't given much service lately. Yesterday, as I thought back on my week, I realized that I guess I had done a little service.

Wednesday, I took my school class to the Soup Kitchen to prepare and serve a meal for the homeless and downtrodden. My students love going and it is a great experience. We usually go about twice a year. I have my regular 'friends' there who make a deal about us coming and look forward to our visits each year.

Let's see, I also bought girl scout cookies, donated to the Special Olympics, supported the DHHS boys soccer team who were doing a car wash fundraiser and spent most of the day Saturday helping my friend set up and decorate for her daughters wedding reception and another daughters mission farewell, the same weekend.

Dan spent six hours, yesterday, helping another young man complete his Eagle Scout Project. He has helped about ten this year with their projects. Although as a youth, he never had a chance to earn his Eagle, because his family moved around so much, he has more than made up for that, probably assisting over 50 young men with projects over the years!

Days of service are my favorite! The blessings that come to you through your service, always out weigh the hard work that is sometimes involved. So as I reflect back on the question that I posed earlier this week, "have I done any good in the world today?" Yeah, I guess I have.

An Angel to Guide You

Grandma and Grandpa Datwyler stopped by on the way home from their trip to Huma, AZ and Southern California and shared this story with us:

On their trip they had visited the Las Vegas, San Diego and Newport temples and had done sessions there.  They had checked into to a Comfort Inn hotel for the evening in the Newport area. They were to leave the next day to go and visit their grandson Marcus Datwyler and family is San Dimis.
That evening, they decided to go out and get something to eat. They checked at the front desk for recommendation and were told there was a Mimi's restaurant not far away. They took off in that direction but realized too late that they had missed the exit to the restaurant and couldn't figure out how to get off and back to that area. They decided to keep going and just look for somewhere else to eat.

Before long, they saw a Cafe Rio restaurant and decided to eat there. It was dark at this time and they made their way back to the shopping area and ate at Cafe Rio. After eating, they tried to make their way back to the way they had exited. They could tell that the entrance back the way they had come was not at the same area they had gotten off at. They wandered around in the dark trying to find a way to get back on the highway towards their motel. They could see the freeway heading the way they wanted to go but could not figure out how to get over a road that was between them and the freeway that they needed to get on.

They drove around and were frustrated as they realized that they were really lost. They did not have the address or the phone number of the motel  where they were staying at. With a prayer in their hearts they became even more lost and were headed up a hill side in a residential area looking for some sign or someone to ask for help. All of sudden they looked up out the window and they could see the Angel Moroni above the trees on the hill top. They recognized this as the Angel on top of the Newport temple where they had been earlier that day! They followed the angel until they got to the temple and found a church house next door.

They pulled into the parking lot of the church at the same time that a nicely dressed gentleman approached the church in his car.  They pulled in beside him and explained their predicament. It turns out that he was the stake president and had arrived early for his meeting for some reason. He got out his smart phone, searched for Comfort Inns in that area and it turned out there were two. He called the first one and they did not have a Denzel Datwyler registered there. When he called the second one, it was the right location. The kind stake president, Googled directions to the motel, drew a nice map for my dad and explained exactly how to get back onto the freeway and how to return to the motel.

Mom and Dad thanked him and drove right back to their motel without any further incident. Dad and mom turn 85 and 83 years old this month. They are in remarkable shape and continue to serve others and attend the temple regularly 2 or 3 times a week. I testify that their years of temple service (12 years as ordinance workers and now as patrons) provide them the blessing of having angels watch over and guide them as well as their extended family. We continually feel blessings from their faith and service. And on this particular night in Newport, CA, the Angel Moroni, literally guided them to get help to make it home!