Apryl Flake Troyer Youth Missionary Story

Apryl,I did not know about your father's passing. Jim told me about your father's illness when we saw each other at Lois Wheeler's funeral, but I had no idea his time to cross the veil would come so soon. I sent your parents a Christmas card last December and your mother wrote back at that time. Please give her my love and best wishes next time you see her. I really thought a lot of your folks, and your father probably taught me as much or more of the gospel as anybody did, including the General Authorities who wrote books that I read.Tell Art I'm jealous that he gets to teach seminary full-time, but it's a good jealous and I'm glad for him.I plan to catch up more later, but for now I'll let you know our address:Ken & Martha Hurst1256 Norman DrLeeds, AL 35094(205) 699-3731We don't travel much, but if we're ever within half a day's drive of you, we'll certainly try to see you guys.Love and thanks,Ken H.---------- Original Message ----------From: Apryl Troyer <ateam8@yahoo.com>To: "kenwhurst@juno.com" <kenwhurst@juno.com>Subject: Re: New Era submissionDate: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:20:01 -0700 (PDT)Ken. . .that is really a neat story, I never knew your side of it. It was so good to hear from you and to learn life has treated you well. Good ole Northwest High wasn't one of my favorite memories but there were some cool things about it. Sounds like you have a neat family and an awesome testimony. I forgot where you said you were living now. We're in St. George Utah, Art teaches Seminary and loves it, I got a Real Estate license at a very bad time to start selling houses. All our crazy kids are grown and married, one of our sons is my Broker so that's kind of fun. My dad passed away in January this year and we have mom out here living next to the Temple where she serves. If you're ever in Utah come visit; winter is the best time, as it sure gets hot here in the summer. Thanks again for sharing your story. Take CareApryl________________________________From: "kenwhurst@juno.com" kenwhurst@juno.comTo: ateam8@yahoo.comSent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 5:59:35 PMSubject: New Era submissionDear Art & Apryl,Here is the text of what I sent to the New Era. (What they print is another matter, of course. I sent a page and a half to the Ensign once, and they accepted 2 hugely edited paragraphs of it.)I plan to send you guys a second e-mail in the near future to catch up on what's gone on since we last saw each other -- when was that? Was that the time we went to SLC together to see President Carter get an award from President Kimball? Gosh, that was 30 years ago!Ken HurstHere's the article text:An Example, An Invitation, and the Book of Mormon “So what do Mormons believe?” Dale asked Apryl. “Do you believe in the Bible?” “Yes,” Apryl answered, “we believe in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon.” What in the world, I wondered, was the Book of Mormon? This was during study hall my junior year of high school. Those of us who took driver's education together during the first semester stayed together at study hall the during same period the second semester. Apryl's family moved into our Tennessee community shortly after second semester began, and Apryl was assigned to our study hall. We driver's education alumni decided to sit at the same table she was sitting at, and quickly absorbed her into our group. There was something different about Apryl, and it was a good difference. We eventually discovered she was Mormon. When Dale asked about believing the Bible and Apryl answered about believing the Bible and the Book of Mormon, I was too shy to ask what the Book of Mormon was. I expected someone else in the group to ask for me, but no one did. A few days later Apryl brought a paperback copy of the Book of Mormon to school with her so that she could mark selected passages for the missionaries. “Wonderful!” I thought. “Now I'll get a chance to learn about this thing.” However, that was the moment a teacher approached me with an errand to to for him. By the time I returned, study hall had ended and lunch had begun. I got my lunch tray and sat down at a vacant table -- vacant except for Apryl's books in a small stack. On top of the stack was the missionary Book of Mormon. I reached over and picked it up. “I'm looking at your book,” I told Apryl when she arrived a few minutes later with her lunch tray. “Okay,” she said, looking a little surprised. School lunch periods are not very long, and I did not get to see much of what was inside the book. I did manage to read the section titled “Origin of the Book of Mormon,” which told of the visitation of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith, and the translation of the gold Book of Mormon plates. I was fascinated. I believed in God, but I also I considered myself a science-oriented type of person, and I normally would not give much credence to modern angel tales. What I read, however, had a ring of truth to it. It really could have happened. And if it did, then – what? It stirred my soul to think about it. Lunch period ended all too soon. I returned Apryl's book to her and went to my next class. I was excited about the possibilities presented by the Book of Mormon's existence, but I was still too shy to talk to her about it. A few weeks later I was working on homework during study hall. Apryl suddenly appeared beside me, an unusually serious look on her face. “Are you really interested in learning about my religion?” she asked me. I was, and I told her so. “There's going to be a special meeting this Friday that's for people who want to learn about our church,” she said. “I'm taking some of my friends. My father's driving. I wondered if you might want to go.” The special meeting was a presentation by the president of the Kentucky-Tennessee Mission describing the basic teachings of the church. Some issues he raised, such as what happens to infants who die unbaptized, were things I had wondered about before. Others, such as eternal marriage, were completely new to me. All of what he said made seemed to make good sense. I began taking the missionary lessons. On the one hand, what I learned was easy to believe. The apostasy, the need for a restoration of the gospel, and the way the restoration was carried out were all logical. The doctrines felt true, and were consistent with my understanding of the Bible. On the other hand, I was not instantly converted. I was reluctant to make any commitments. It took weeks and months of pondering and study before I was ready to consider leaving my protestant heritage and officially joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It wasn't until after fasting and prayer that I received my testimony and was baptized into the church. Since that time I have served a mission, married in the temple, and served in a variety of callings. For years I have told people that I was brought into the church by a member who was both a good example and who also had the courage to open her mouth and invite me to church. But I see now that there was a third factor: the Book of Mormon. Would I have accepted Apryl's invitation had I not peeked inside her Book of Mormon? I don't know. What I do know is that the story of its divine origin made me want to know if it was really true. When the Lord confirmed the truthfulness of it to me, I knew that I could trust what was written in the Book of Mormon to be the words of the Lord every bit as much as the words in the Bible were, and that they would show me all things that I should do (see 2 Nephi 32:3.) My life is very different from what it would have been had I not embraced the restored gospel, and it's a good difference.

School of Life

The School of Life: Learn to school your toughtest opponent.
I have been using this program in my teacher adisory class at Millcreek High School for several years. It is great, simple advice for all ages. Attached is a news clip about the program featuring myself and several of my colleages commenting abaout the program.

http://www.kcsg.com/news/local/35781284.html?video=YHI&t=a

Tender Mercies from the Lord

I just received this email from a former student that I had taught last year. I had filled out a referral card with her name on it and given it to the sister missionaries that I had been working with earlier this summer. The timing turned out to be just right as I had forgotten to give it to them a few times. The Lord knows and loves Jamie and her young son Raymond. As I read this email to my family, I choked up and was overcome with the love and tender mercy of the Lord.

hey mys flake its me jamie brinkerhoff.
you might want to sit down for this cause i have some wierd news to tell u that u might be shocked about.
well i got a call from the st george temple 2nite (june 25, 2009) they called and told me u went there and that u thought about me the whole time u were there. well this might sound wierd to you but tuesday night (june 23, 2009) i talked to my parents about wanting to go back to church and going through the temple. so thanx for telling them to call me and getting me signed up for the missionaries. it means alot to me that u did that so thanx. i think this can help me reach my goal.sincerely jamie brinkerhoff :) thanx again love ya

On Becoming a Mother for the First Time

As I anticipate the birth of my first grandchild, I reflect on my experience of giving birth to Danielle on March 28, 1984. (Dan and I were married on July 28, 1982. I was 21 years old when I got married and 23 years old at the time of her birth. This worked well for us.) The following is what I recorded in my journal after her birth.

“What a beautiful baby! Boy, you sure had a lot of hair, real dark. I kind of knew from the start, that you would be a girl. I even bought your blessing dress before you were born. (Ultra sounds were not common then.)

The day we’d been anticipating for so long, finally arrived. I had a real easy pregnancy—a few bad headaches and a little nausea but nothing compared to a lot of women. I didn’t get real big and people always commented about that. You were a real mover. I told people you’d be a good dancer. I loved it.

When you were born, it was hard to imagine that you had actually been what had been making me fat. How did you ever survive in there and that exhilarating delivery?
No words can describe a mother’s feelings when she gives birth to a living child. It is so special. I feel excited for the next one.

I tried to nurse you for a month, but you weren’t gaining weight like you should have, so we put you on formula. You were a very good baby. You didn’t sleep through the night very good, but Daddy was always really good to take turns getting up with you. We are always so proud of you. I like to take you with me just because I can show you off. I am so glad that you are really pretty. I guess parents always worry about that!”

I’ll try and find what I wrote after each of the other children was born…Good luck Steve and Danielle. You will be great parents!

Remember Gratitude

January 27, 2008

Offering Gratitude

O Remember, Remember by President Henry B. Eyring

Today’s fourth Sunday Conference talk was given by Cindy Thompson. It was the first talk given by Pres. Eyring after he was named a counselor in the first presidency.
He tells of how he was told in his mind—not in his own voice—these words: “I’m not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.”

He says, “I went inside. I took out some paper and began to write. And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family. And so I wrote it down, so that my children could have the memory someday when they would need it. I wrote down a few lines every day for years. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart.
Testimony grew
I felt more gratitude for the atonement of the Savior
I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance

Cindy Thompson commented that you have to learn to ponder and that it’s fun. Pres. Eyring concludes that it can change our natures as we keep our part of the promise from the Sacrament prayer to always remember Him, keep His commandments and take His name upon us. He says that “it brings me joy to remember Him!” I agree…

I shared a special experience that I had this week in Maui. It is three hours later in Hawaii so I woke early every morning, because I was used to waking up at 6:00 am which was really like 9:00 am and sleeping in there. I would go down to the beach in front of our Condo and walk along the beach to exercise and enjoy the beauty. Some days, Dan and or the children would come along, but on this day, I was alone. I had walked out on the street a few blocks and then was drawn to the beautiful ocean. I took off my walking shoes and enjoyed the feel of the sand in between my toes as I walked along the beach.

I paused and reflected on the beauty of the masterpiece painting before me as I watched the moon set and the reflection of the sun rising to the East. The clouds on the horizon looked like cotton candy with their hues of soft pink and violet against the soft blue sky.
I was overcome with gratitude for the beautiful sight before me. As I stood there, I closed my eyes and said my morning prayer, giving thanks for the beauty of the world.

When I opened my eyes, I was delighted and surprised to see a see lion (sea monk) just a few feet straight ahead of me in the shallow ocean waves having his morning bath. He frolicked in front of me for several minutes, enjoying the beautiful morning with me before swimming back into the sea. The thought ran through my mind that Heavenly Father had heard and acknowledged my prayer of gratitude and simply wanted to send me another moment of pleasure to let me know that he was happy that I enjoyed his beautiful creations.

Because of Pres. Eyring’s talk and Sis. Thompson’s lesson, I’ll record this memory for future reflection.

Please View the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF01BQAcj8E&feature=channel

Service

Dan has been in the Bishopric of the Little Valley II ward for two months now. As he has had increased opportunities to speak publicly, I am hearing new stories from his life that I have never heard before. When asked to speak about service, he told the story of when he went to work on the Stake Beehive Farm in the Nashville stake as a youth. They had run out of protective clothing but he still wanted to help, so he buttoned up the cuffs and neck of his collared shirt, put a net over his face and went forth to help retrieve the honey from the busy honey bees.
Suddenly he felt and heard a bee frantically buzzing and stinging under the back of his shirt. Instinctively he panicked and tried to free the venomous bee from underneath his shirt. He bent over and grabbed the tails of his shirt and ripped if off his head to avoid further stings from the attacking bee as he ran from the hives toward freedom. What was left when he got far enough away and could no longer hear the buzzing of furious bees were just the tightly secured cuffs from his shirt and a few bee stings!
The moral of this story is make sure that you are prepared with the “whole armor of God” when facing a hive of bees and more importantly it is to always be willing to serve when asked and do so willing and make it fun. We have enjoyed being able to spend many hours thinning and picking peaches and apricots at the Hurricane church fruit farm and helping at the local cannery. We make a game of the situation, enjoy in lively conversation and make new friends as we enjoy the blessings of service. You can throw a few hard unripe apricots at an unsuspecting coworker or share lives experiences as you work side by side and help the hours pass far too quickly. So what if you have to arise before dawn on a Saturday morning or don a hairnet and gloves in high fashion. Service always brings more blessings than the sacrifice offered.

Don't Give Up What You Want Most, for What You Want Now!

I first found this thought on a sign hanging in my room at the old Millcreek High School in Washington when I first started teaching there. It became my motto as a teacher to share with my students the secret of how to find success and make it to the finish line of high school graduation. It hangs in my current classroom and on the bulletin board in my son’s room.
When asked by a classmate if you want to sluff next period and go get breakfast, think about what you want most. Is getting a sluff and a potential No Grade taking you closer to your goal of graduation? If it is not, be tuff and say no, let’s wait for the lunch break and then go.
When the alarm goes off in the morning and you haven’t had much sleep, overrule the idea of turning off the alarm and going back to sleep with the notion that going to school is going to get you closer to your dream.
When you are tempted to drop out of college and take a job that pays pretty decent money, DON’T! Think of the 40 plus years that you are going to spend in the workforce and increase in salary that you will get if you have a degree on your resume! Put off the temptation to give up and go for the diploma!
When you want to give into satisfying that sweet tooth and indulge in massive calorie intake while dieting, don’t! Remember what you want most is to fit into that summer swimming suit without feeling uncomfortable.
When you are dating that someone special and are tempted to become a little too intimate, Don’t! Remember that goal of being sealed for all time and eternity in the House of the Lord will bring far greater pleasure and happiness.
Remember what you want most and don’t give in to the short term pleasure! The long term goal is worth waiting for.