Light the World Day #26 Steven

#LIGHTtheWORLD Day 26. 
Actually the Christmas initiative is over but I want to share one last experience. Last Tuesday I took my school class to a care center to sing carols and deliver cards and candy canes to the 50 residents. We had 1 1/2 hours to make our visits so we sang them each a carol and delivered our gift and moved on to the next room. As I was leaving one room, this man looked deeply into my eyes and as I took a moment to look into his, I could see that he was crying, he was touched by our act of kindness. I went over and took his hand and we shed a few tears together. He didn't say anything. My class had moved on to the next room so I left and joined them.
We finished our service but I thought of this man all week. I couldn't get his warm, tender eyes out of mind. Christmas Eve day, we were finishing up our Christmas deliveries, and I told my family that we had one last stop that we had to make. I took a few small gifts into the care center and we began to look for my friend. I didn't catch his name or remember which hall he was in. A kind nurse tried to help us as I stuck my head in each room looking for the one.
Of course in the last room we checked, we found him. There was no name on his outside door but we learned that his name was Stephen.
We had a nice visit as we learned that he had suffered a heart attack, a stroke, and then had fallen and broken his hip while trying to recover! He was from Detroit and had moved to St. George on a whim after he took a map of the United States and then threw a dart at it; determined to pack up and move wherever the dart landed. The dart struck on Ivins, UT. So he packed up a Uhaul and moved to Ivins, Utah, site unseen!
He accepted a warm blanket and we wrapped him up in our love. Again our eyes met and tears were shed by us both. I realized why he touched me to the core; as I looked into his eyes, I felt as if I was looking at the Savior, Jesus Christ.
The True meaning of Christmas hit me in my small act of service as I recalled these words from Matthew 25:40,
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." #LIGHTtheWORLD

Avoid the Great and Spacious Building

 

There has been mocking and finger pointing as of late in the church concerning the church's handbook clarification on gay/lesbian couples and the children in their home. This morning I re-listened to a talk from October Conference called Let the Clarion Trumpet Sound by Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer of the Seventy. Like all of the messages from our leaders, it is so timely.

Here is an excerpt from his remarks:

 "Over the many years that I have studied the story of Lehi’s dream in the Book of Mormon, I have always thought of the great and spacious building as a place where only the most rebellious reside. The building was filled with people mocking and pointing at the faithful who had held on to the iron rod, which represents the word of God, and had made their way to the tree of life, which represents the love of God. Some could not bear up under the pressure of the people mocking them and wandered off. Others decided to join the mockers in the building. Did they not have the courage to speak boldly against the criticisms or messages of the world?

As I watch the current world moving away from God, I think this building is growing in size. Many find themselves today wandering the halls of the great and spacious building, not realizing that they are actually becoming part of its culture. They often succumb to the temptations and the messages. We eventually find them mocking or chiming in with those who criticize or mock.

For years I thought the mocking crowd was making fun of the way the faithful live their lives, but the voices from the building today have changed their tone and approach. Those who mock often try to drown out the simple message of the gospel by attacking some aspect of the Church’s history or offering pointed criticism of a prophet or other leader. They are also attacking the very heart of our doctrine and the laws of God, given since the Creation of the earth. We, as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His Church, must never let go of that iron rod. We must let the clarion trumpet sound from our own souls.

The simple message is that God is our loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is His Son. The gospel is restored in these latter days through living prophets, and the evidence is the Book of Mormon. The path of happiness is through the basic family unit as originally organized and revealed by our Heavenly Father. This is the familiar melody of the message that many can recognize because they have heard it from their premortal life.

It is time for us, as Latter-day Saints, to stand up and testify.

Grateful to Serve

For our November Scout Pack Meeting the scouts made craft Turkeys and assembled care packages for the single sisters in our ward. These included Christmas music, a DVD about Jesus Christ, a candle, cookies, candy kisses,  soup in a jar, and a handmade card signed by each of the young boys. The boys then went with their family to deliver the basket and visit with one sister. 

 This was a great learning experience for the boys to learn to give to others. In Primary the theme for the month is Mosiah 2:7, "When ye are in the service of your Fellow Beings, You are only in the Service of your God". 

I am grateful for parents who taught me the fulfillment and joy that comes from serving others.

Here are a few comments made from some of the sisters who received a basket:  

Joyce Kristofferson I was privileged to receive one of our scouts projects. Thank you scouts. The turkey is awesome. The gifts on the tray wonderful and so perfect for the coming holiday. 

 

Susan Clark Williams-Ashby My mother was overwhelmed by the generosity and love shown to her tonight. Thanx to all the scouts and their families and my mother's thoughtful Angel Shelly, you all really made her feel special tonight!!!

Marsha Whiting Dutson What a special surprise for me and Madi. She couldn't have been more excited. Thanks for making us feel so special

Simple....Gospel....Teachings

This is a post shared by my friend:
"Can I be in charge of the lesson for Family night tonight, Mom?"
It caught me off guard and I'm not sure why.
She made a request for scissors, fabric, a sweater, a piece of paper, and a pen. 30 minutes later she had a beautiful, accurate, and well thought out lesson about the Good Samaritan.
...

In church on Sunday we discussed the importance of the organization of stakes. What an odd lesson, I thought.
However, once we got into the meat of the lesson I was in tears. It is because of the organization of the church that my kids are being taught what they are.
I don't have all the time in the world. And I teach my kids what I can. But sometimes I can't. And sometimes I don't know the stories as well as I'd feel comfortable admitting. But because of their teachers, who were called by the bishop, who was called by the stake president...because of these volunteers, my kids are learning gospel stories. And understanding them. And loving church.
Sometimes it's hard to love going to church...sacrament meeting especially. Like when your kid decides to take a marker to the church bench, or they all simultaneously have screaming meltdowns and you have to carry 2 of the 3 out while crying yourself because you are so embarrassed, or whatever the reason may be.
But, because of the inspired organization that there is, and because of the disciples of Christ that I am surrounded by...relief comes.
Having to be the recipient of so many service opportunities isn't easy. But I'm learning to accept and appreciate them. And someday, I'll be able to repay. Someday.
Life isn't easy.
This post evolved.
The church is true.
The end.

‪

My reply:  Love you and love that your kids listened as I taught and had the kids act out the account of the good Samaritan in sharing time! The real key that I learned just a few years ago is to follow the outline that the church organization puts out. Simple...gospel...teachings!

Dan's Testimony of a Kite

Dan bore his testimony today "because it was time". He shared an analogy that he has used with the young men about kites. 

A kite is tethered and held down with a string. It may seem constraining, but if you let go of the kite string, the kite will flounder in the wind and soon fall to the ground. The kite string actually enables the kite to fly. 

Like a kite, the gospel has boundaries, rules that may seem constraining at times, but in essence allows us to be free from sin and to soar higher then we could ever imagine. We must learn to fly within the boundaries that the gospel provides. As we do, our kite will fly to its highest and greatest potential. 

Just a Pot of Dirt

Andrew was in his institute class when they were approached and were asked for volunteers to help with the St. George Temple renovation. Andrew and his friend Ryan Jones were the only ones to go volunteer. Andrew called Dan and he came over and helped. Their task was to dig crawl space tunnels under the oxen in the baptistery. They crawled around digging for three hours. 

Family friend, David Suttner, heard about it and wanted to help next time there was a need. The next time the job was to replace the light bulbs in the women's dressing room; not quite as dramatic, but good service none the less. David wanted some of the dirt that had been dug out from under the temple. He and Andrew asked and they were able to get some. Mindy wrote this poem and she and David planted pots with flowers and the temple dirt, and they took them around to their friends. Here is the poem about Andrew and his service.

Just a Pot of Dirt

Just a pot of weak red sand,

A lone spot of green

Yet so much more can be had

When you have the eyes to see.

This dirt its post many years it kept

beneath twelve oxen, from Napthali to Dan,

Until strong young men were called.

Just one heard and came.

Humble, true, his heart was sound

The nod to him was given

To take some of this hallowed ground

And share a bit with friends.

This is but dirt until you hear

The sighs of Saints from long ago

Who crossed the desert Sinai

To those who crossed the desert here,

Forsaking comfort, wealth, and ease

To follow God’s commands

To make the desert blossom as a rose

With nothing but their hands.

With blood and sweat and aching limbs

They gave this work their all

To build a beacon to the world

This temple firm and tall

Where those from round the globe

On both sides of the veil,

Come to covenant with God--

Their faith to never fail.

Just a pot of dirt you say

Until with eyes now opened

A symbol of the eternal plan

Held in one cupped hand.

                                                                                By Mindy Suttner

Andrew Flake, a descendant of James Madison Flake, was the Young Single Adult who responded to the call for volunteers to help dig out under the St. George temple baptistery to renovate the plumbing.  James Madison Flake, when he met the Prophet Joseph Smith, immediately freed all of his slaves, sold his large plantation, and dedicated his wealth to outfitting as many Saints as he could to trek west.  Andrew’s consecration to the Lord is reminiscent of the sacrifices of his forbears.

Repentance and Forgiveness

In last October conference, Elder Jorg Klebingat, gave us a list of 6 things to help us increase our Confidence with God. I’m a list maker and like to check things off so I liked his message about using the Atonement in our lives.

#4. Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly. Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out.

He compares the Atonement of Jesus Christ as a prescription from the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. We go to the Dr. for a prescription medication to fix our bodies; in comparison we have the atonement that we can fix our spirits with, if “we apply it generously, 24/7”.

(Along with Repentance of course, comes Forgiveness)

#5. Become really, really good at forgiving. “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10). Forgive everyone, everything, all the time, or at least strive to do so, thus allowing forgiveness into your own life. We shouldn’t hold grudges, or be easily offended, We need to forgive and forget quickly.

Another way to look at it: “We should forgive not because we are wrong, but because staying angry robs us of our happiness.”