The Blessing of Temples and of the Holy Ghost

27 Jan 2018

I forgot to mention last week that I and some other missionaries in our zone have started entering the metadata for oral genealogies from Ghana. The transcriptions have already been done before we get the files, then, we enter the data needed for the info to be searchable online. We’ll be working on oral genealogies from other countries as well, but, right now, it’s only Ghana.

One of our church service missionaries (who lives here in SLC), Sister Contreras, told us the sweetest story this week. She has been in the U.S. for more than 20 years but developed some severe anxiety issues after she got here. For example, she was afraid (terrified, actually) to drive on busy roads or highways. This meant that her children often missed out on things because she wouldn’t drive them. She also would not ride in elevators - and sometimes her husband would have a special event at work that he wanted her to attend, but if it involved an elevator she wouldn’t go. (Usually, he just stayed home as well rather than go without her.) For years she prayed for help to overcome this problem. Then, one day, she was in the temple and the spirit whispered, “Today’s the day.” So, even though she was afraid, she said, “Okay. I will do.” That evening was a special event at her husband’s work and he had decided not to attend because they would have to use an elevator. She convinced him it would be okay, and they went. After they got there, they heard an announcement that President Thomas S. Monson was going to be there. She was able to be at the front of the line and Pres. Monson spoke with her, one-on-one, and allowed her husband to take a picture of the two of them together. She was thrilled and felt this was an unexpectedly wonderful reward for overcoming her fear. She expressed her gratitude for the gift of the Holy Ghost to help her overcome the debilitating anxiety that had held her captive for so long.

Now, she will drive on busy roads and she uses an elevator every day that she serves here in our mission. What a blessing the Holy Ghost is! He comforts and aids us in more ways than we sometimes know.

We are missing having the Salt Lake Temple open. It’s closed for three weeks for winter maintenance. Of course, it’s nothing like having the Raleigh Temple closed. Ours is only closed three weeks – not a year and a half – and, we have several other temples within an easy distance that we can go to in the interim. I think the next closest temple to Raleigh is in Columbia, SC - about a 3.5-hour drive. It’s so much harder, now, for everyone in the Raleigh area to get to the temple. But, it will be glorious when the work is completed!

We enjoyed time in the Bountiful Temple yesterday. Then, last night, we got to hear a performance of the BYU Chamber Orchestra. Every year, from Jan – Apr, accomplished BYU students come to Salt Lake City for a set of performances called “Winterfest” - at the Conference Center Theater (just across the street from us.) Next month we have tickets to see ballroom dancers one night and another night, a group called Living Legends (with authentic Latin American, Native American, and Polynesian costumes, singing and dancing).

It's Finally Snowing Here

20 January 2018

We’re finally getting a little of the snow many of our friends and family in other parts of the country have been experiencing. They were predicting last night that we’d get 5”. However, it started about 8 pm, is still lightly snowing, and we’ve only gotten about one inch, so far — so it seems like it won’t be all they said it would. Since we were told we’d be under a winter storm warning, we ran our usual Saturday errands yesterday afternoon (so we wouldn’t have to get out in it today.) But, it doesn’t look like going out will be a problem if we want anything.

We heard our granddaughter, Sophia, won her school’s spelling bee this week. That was exciting news to hear.

We got another new missionary in our zone yesterday and it seems like she’ll be a great addition! She’s from New Hampshire, is close to our age, and has good computer skills. Like us, she and her husband were adult converts to the church and always talked about serving a mission after retiring. Unfortunately, his health declined such that they couldn’t go together before he died — so she’s here now. Her name is Marie Eastman and she has some of those strong Italian roots that many in the NE have. She hopes to make more progress on her Italian genealogy while she's here.

We love going to the special “Go Forth” meetings that are held when the new missionaries get assigned! There is such a strong spirit there, and Pres. Finn usually shares an inspiring message from the Book of Mormon. (This one was along the lines of the Lord’s commandment to “go and do.” — If He calls you, He will sustain you and help you succeed. We just need to do our part.)

Magnificent Blessings

13 January 2018

It’s only mid-January, and already we’re counting the days until spring. . . though we haven’t, yet, had the snowfall we had by this time last year.

We had a great visit this week from a couple of our North Carolina friends — Pat and Harold Hargett. They stayed one night with us and were here at the right time to also attend President Thomas S. Monson’s funeral yesterday. Since they flew in to attend a granddaughter’s wedding, and to visit other family – they left our place shortly after the funeral.

I never, in my life, would have imagined that I’d ever attend the funeral service of a prophet of God. But, such it was, yesterday. It was a sacred time, and Bob and I were grateful for the opportunity to be in attendance, and to remember and honor President Monson’s life and hear the tributes paid to him.

Elder Holland posted this great photo of himself and President Monson on facebook.
I wonder what year it was taken - it looks like it could be from 30 years (or more) ago.

All of the church offices were closed yesterday because of the funeral, and since Monday is MLK day – it’s kind of like having a 4-day weekend. Perhaps it’s our age, but, the thing that is most appealing to both of us is to stay home and do nothing! (Maybe I’ll make an exception to going out, and head to the library after while in search of a good mystery.)

In the mission, our Sunday lessons will be similar to what the rest of the Church is studying except some weeks we’ll have lessons selected by our mission president. This week it was great to re-read Elder Dallin H. Oaks’ talk, “The Plan and the Proclamation.” He quoted President Hinckley, who said: “I see a wonderful future in a very uncertain world. If we will cling to our values, if we will build on our inheritance, if we will walk in obedience before the Lord, if we will simply live the gospel, we will be blessed in a magnificent and wonderful way.”

I'm wishing magnificent and wonderful blessings for each of our loved ones!

First Post of the New Year

6 January 2018

The New Year is off to a good start. I had a wonderful visit with family and friends in North Carolina – and especially loved getting to snuggle with Susy and Todd’s new little one, Jack Sterling Estes. Isn’t he the cutest?

It’s good to be back in the mission, though. We’ll get to see everyone in NC again in only 7 more months.

We were all saddened to learn of President Monson’s passing and we hope to attend the funeral next week.

Bob had arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus yesterday to prepare his knee for stem cell treatments. Hopefully, he’ll be a lot more mobile and without the chronic knee pain before too long.

I want to share a wonderful spiritual thought with you that one of our missionaries, Elder William Pace, gave this week. He said:

“As we begin another New Year we look back to the past, we look forward to the future, and we may be inclined to include in our prayers to Father in Heaven, "What lack I yet?" "How can I become better?" And as we try to take stock of and analyze our lives, I love this thought from Nikki Yaste, known as the LDS Woman at the Well, an abused, former addict, exotic dancer, and now a convert to the Gospel of Jesus Christ: "What I've learned (about change) is to be patient with myself and to realize that God loves me right where I'm at, but He also loves me enough not to leave me there. He wants me to change. We have a Heavenly Father who has a compassionate embrace, one whose arms are extended in mercy. And when I realized that I am loved right where I'm at and that acceptance washed over me, I could be more patient with myself." She could probably add …and it gave me a greater desire to do better.

Many years ago, Elder Orson F. Whitney of the Quorum of Twelve, said: "Our Father in Heaven is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than even the best of His servants [His children], and the everlasting Gospel is mightier in power to save than our narrow finite minds can comprehend."

In the nineteenth century, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in its fullness, was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. During that same time period, over in Scotland, we learn of a minister of a large Protestant church by the name of George McDonald. The God that he taught was so merciful, loving and kind, that his congregation, in effect, fired him — or at least cut his pay in half — because he didn't preach enough Hell, fire & damnation to put fear into the people to repent — or so they thought.

Listen to his teaching about our coming to God, unworthy as we might be at times: "When we are least worthy, most tempted, hardest, unkindest, let us yet commend our spirits & [hearts] into his hands. [Where] else dare we send them? How an earthly father would love a child who would creep into his room with angry, troubled face, and sit down at his feet, saying when asked what he wanted: "I feel so naughty, papa, and I want to get good!" Would he say to the child, "How dare you! Go away, and be good, and then come to me?" And shall we dare to think God would send us away if we came thus; and would He not be pleased that we came...?" Why would we not think our Heavenly Father to be even more welcoming, compassionate, and wanting to help His child than, as a parent, we would be?

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is taught in ancient and modern scripture, and by our living Apostles and Prophets. Jesus Christ teaches me that I am a person of worth, valued for who I am, but more importantly that I can become better this coming year than I was last. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

I echo Elder Pace’s thoughts! May we all “try a little harder to be a little better” as President Hinckley used to say.