Endowment

I'll be honest that I didn't know what the word "Endowment" meant for the longest time. Understanding that going to the Temple and getting a blessing from on high and gifts from God can really put perspective to your life. I think of it this way...what is the best achievement or gift someone can achieve here on earth? Some say the Nobel Peace Prize, other think the medal of honor or purple heart, or maybe even a Super Bowl ring could be the highest. They are all given to you from a world power, a king or President. How cool would it be to get the Nobel Peace Prize of the universe from the greatest King ever, our Heavenly Father? Fact of the matter is you can with the covenants and blessings in the Temple. 

While in the MTC I was able to go to the Temple once a week. It was great since I was there for 2 months. I remember sitting in the Celestial room on the last trip before flying out to El Salvador, knowing full well there wasn't a Temple in my mission and this feeling I had in me at that moment would have to last for 2 years until I could make it back. When the time came I reluctantly got up and walked out of the room and eventually out the front doors to look past the fountain onto the Provo valley and Utah Lake. If I didn't know any better I would have thought I was floating since everything is low elevation than the Temple. As we walked back to the MTC, I had a prayer in my heart that this feeling that was still in me would never leave until I could make it back. 

Without fail that feeling left over time, but the endowment never did. I was given power to fight through rejection, parasites, unbelievable heat, loneliness, and fatigue. The priesthood power and gift from Temple covenants helped me "float" above it all and find joy in the journey. Of course I missed the inside walls of the Temple but the knowledge and companionship of the Lord I was never without. 

As most people work a lifetime to earn such rewards and gifts, the Temple blessings are endowments to help with a life time of work to make it back where we all came from and belong! We need to make it to the Temple as soon as possible and for those that have gone, we need to go often as possible. I know it is something that I need to work on.  

Eternal Marriage

        I remember the day I decided to marry Brooke. I had bought the ring a few week previous but still wasn't 100% committed at that point. The day I decided to marry her I jumped in my car and headed to Evanston where I met with her parents and asked for permission. Afterwords I drove to Idaho where I surprised her at work and we hung out for the weekend. She still had no idea at this point where I was earlier that day. Long story short a few months later we were married in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Today Brooke and I taught a lesson on marriage and unity. It came to me today more than ever how important a Temple marriage is. There is so much more to it than just living with someone you care about. It is raising children in the gospel, helping each other progress culturally, spiritually, intellectually, and personally. It is the mutual understanding that we are in this forever. There is no end, which helps when arguments come up and rough times to know that it's just a spec on the eternal time line.

I am grateful that we have the blessing of the Priesthood and Temples to carry out such things. I know that Temples are where lasting ordinances are preformed. Temple marriage to me is a life long ceremony. It last more than the few nice words and the initial kiss as bride and groom on the wedding day. It is a test that we love each other throughout our entire lives, to prove to one another that we are committed for eternity. After this life is where the journey begins. Brooke and I are mutually in this marriage with an eternal perspective on things and I love her for doing this with me.

Birds Eye View

Have you ever driven across Wyoming in the middle of the night? We did this summer. We left Utah around 9:00 PM and drove through the night so Duncan would last the 8 hour drive north to Powell. It had been several years since I had last made the trip and I had never done it in the night. Needless to say we had to ask the phone a few times where to turn. My phone has turn by turn navigation capabilities and we had to use it a time or two so we didn't end up in South Dakota.

For those that haven't had the pleasure of driving these Wyoming roads let me tell you that there are stretches of I want to say 100+ miles where you wont see anything but dirt and tumble weeds. If you mix that in with the night sky you can't see farther then the 50 or so feet in front of you that you headlights are showing. So you are forced to TRUST this road that you are driving on that it will indeed take you where you really want to go. At day time you can at least see some land marks from time to time but all that goes away at night. When we came to some cross roads it wasn't always clear which way we needed to turn. When we weren't sure we asked the trusty phone. You can see a couple hundred feet above you and even go ahead if you want to see where this windy road is taking you. All of the sudden I can see farther ahead then the headlights, the worry of not being sure about a choice is gone because I know the GPS doesn't care if it is light or dark out, it knows how to guide me to where I want to go.

It didn't dawn on me until the next day at church the spiritual implications that trip had on me. Our lives are just like that road trip, each and every person is born with the light of Christ "headlights". Just like the don't make cars with out headlights our loving Heavenly Father doesn't send his children to earth without the light of Christ to help them see a few feet ahead. For those that chose, the gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred that acts as a GPS. Our goal is to make if from point A to point B. A being birth and B being back to him once more. How nice is it to have the luxury of a GPS on this trip back home? How scary are those times when we are left without it, not knowing where to turn next, trying to trust our own abilities to get back? GPS devices run off battery and can go dead if not recharged. We all make decisions from time to time that deplete our batteries and cause the Holy Ghost to leave us in the dark. How great the power of the atonement is that allows these batteries to be recharged with countless re-tries when we mess up? It is clear to see that God wants all of us back. He can't or won't force us back though; it is up to us to come to his open arms. (3 Nephi 9:13-14)

This luxury is fully paid for by the blood of Christ, it is available to everyone no matter who you are, what you have done, or where you are from. It is scary to think of life without this guidance, Satan knows how great this guidance is to us and will do everything in his power to convince us that we are not good enough to have this gift. Don't listen to him, we are all good enough, we can all make it back to him and see the sun rise. Remember it is always darkest just before sunrise. 

What is Time?

Probably the one thing there is no going back on. Time, is so valuable. Today was general conference and Elder Henry B. Eyring talked about choices he made in his professional career that weren't exactly what he had hoped for but it was what the Lord wanted and he obeyed.

I remember a time on my mission, it was the night before my one year anniversary to be exact, the half way point. I had a dream that night that I was in the kitchen when the phone rang. President Call was on the other line and he told me that the mission rules from the Church had changed. No longer were missionaries to server for 2 years, rather 1 year now. He told me seeing how I had been out exactly one year now it was time to pack up and come home. I hung up the phone and started thinking to myself how could this be? I wasn't ready to go home. I hadn't completed what I had set out to do. Sure, at this point I had several baptisms,  was a Zone leader, had already trained a missionary and felt on paper like I was very accomplished as a missionary. Something was missing, I wasn't truly converted and I felt as if I hadn't tried over the past year as hard as I really could have. That was all too late now, time had passed, there was no going back.

I woke up, my pillow drenched in sweat,(Still not sure if that was due to the dream, drool, or the extreme heat at the time) I was in a panic. It didn't hit me for about another hour that it was all a dream, or was it? Indeed I really only had a year now to serve a mission. If I were to start today I would only be able to serve a one year mission for the Lord. I made a promise to the Lord that I would bust my butt to leave nothing behind but good works and miracles EVERY day.

Why is it that during those 2 years of my life I had so many memories, lessons, and things to write home about, yet now and before my mission the days seem to fly by without a memory to hold them from the wind? Brooke and I had a conversation tonight while driving home from Evanston, the example came to mind of bread. There are two types of bread really. The one dollar loafs that are fluffy and light, then there are the more expensive kinds that are heavy and healthy full of good things. On the outside there look the same until you pick them up or taste them. Life is just like that sometimes. We can look at everyone around us and they may appear successful, happy or "heavy". Truth is we really cant tell until you ask. I think the reason my life during the 2 years I was on a mission was so hearty with memories and life lessons was because of one key element. God was heavily involved in my life. I woke up asking what he had planned for me.

Today I go to work, I have a boss that gives me guidance on what I need to do each day. If my boss isn't there I try to make do but we all know the day is never as productive when he/she is gone. The same goes with us spiritually, if we lose track of ourselves in all these earthly goals and aspirations we are going to look back at life as a one dollar loaf of bread, light and fluffy with no true value. I hope to never let the one thing we can't go back slip anymore. I need something to write home about each day. I know if we strive to make the effort we will see the hand of God in our lives more often. Our lives will be continually filled with stories as if we are on missions. The Lord never forgets about us and stops giving us experiences  we stop asking and looking for them.

I hope I never have to wait for the phone call to wake up again and get going again. Procrastinate later, and jump ahead of the curve where our loving Heavenly Father will be waiting for us with outstretched hands saying job well done.

An End to Apostasy

For the past 2 months I have been helping with a Preach My Gospel class at church. It has been a good experience for all involved and more so for me when I get the chance to teach. Today we had the opportunity to hear the Elders teach a lesson and it was great.

We broke up into several groups to practice teaching any principal we wanted. My companion and I chose prayer. Almost immediately into the lesson I felt it would be a good idea to teach about the time Joseph Smith received an answer to his prayer. I had been a very long time since I had last shared that experience and even longer since I did it in English. I have the vision and whole experience down word for word in Spanish but English proved to be another beast. None the less I still did my best as the conversation carried on.

I explained to those that we were teaching that I knew prayer was true because of several experiences that I have had in my life but also because of an experience that affected humanity forever. That prayer that was answered started the end to an apostasy the world had known for over 1,000 years. Joseph Smith once wanted to know which of all these churches had the FULLNESS of the gospel. He knew of no one better to ask then God himself.

I then relayed the experience that he had word for word. He testifies that at the exact moment that he knelt down and started to pray something amazing happened. In his own words he states “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

Even though all four of us in that lesson were members of the church and knew of this experience very well the spirit that was in the room at that time was as if it were the first time we had heard of the experience. Everyone was edified and filled with a feeling that was so good and secure that we never wanted it to end.

All though many think otherwise, I know that Joseph Smith was called of God our Heavenly Father to restore the fullness of Jesus Christ’s gospel that has been jumbled and picked through for centuries. Through Him, God brought other testaments to clarify and simplify his gospel for our day. I know Jesus Christ if the redeemer of all mankind and that he and God the Father live and because of that he hears and answers prayers.

Forget Yourself

           I had the opportunity while on my mission to serve in leadership positions. I became a zone leader at just 11 months into it all. One of the obstacles I had to overcome was getting the respect from older missionaries. As most of us do, it is hard to learn from or take council from someone that is younger than us. After all what could a rookie leader and less than a middle aged missionary teach someone that had been a missionary for 20+ months. I knew that I was called to lead them and as such had reasons the Lord only knew to teach and guide my zone to success.

            While reading of Christ he always converted people with his great example and outstanding service. I had an idea that at the time I thought would help get the respect of the other missionaries in my zone and help them, but I came to find out pretty quickly that it wasn’t the only thing that would come of it.

            Each morning missionaries have a solid routine. Wake up at 6:30 am and exercise for 30 minutes. Then you have 1 hour to eat, shower, get dressed and do anything else you need to get ready for the day. By 8:00 am sharp you are reading and doing personal study for an hour. From 9:00 am to 10:00 am you study with your companion and then its out the door until 9:00 pm.

            We decided that if we were going to see changes in this zone we needed to follow Christ’s example and server the Elders in our zone. We woke up at 6:00 am and headed out the door to be at a new set of missionaries’ house each day at 6:30 am just in time for them to wake up. We then proceeded to clean their house as out exercise, (believe me some of these places I would have rather do push-ups and jumping jacks) we did all we could in 30-45 minutes. After that we fixed them a breakfast they wouldn’t forget. Finally together we studied and taught them a lesson during companionship study. We successfully pumped them up to work miracles and then headed to our own areas to work for the day. Each day was a different house and it was always a surprise.

            Over time they worked harder than ever before and I also noticed that I was happier then I had ever been too. Yes, I was getting 30 minutes less of sleep each day but it sure didn’t feel like it! Nothing compares to the feeling you get when you serve someone else. To see the reaction on their faces of gratitude and unbelief that someone thought of them the way you just did is incomparable to anything else that I have ever experienced. If you are ever feeling down and out, or feeling as if you are not enough do are President Hinckley suggests and forget yourself and get to work. Serve someone else and Heavenly Father will reward you in return. Odd that the fix to you problems will never be yourself but God repaying you for helping someone else in need. We are all in need everyday and the best way I have found to get out of a self pity rut is to help someone else out of theirs first.

Modern Miracles

You might recall a previous experience I had while on my mission in Juayua. It was an area that was really small and my companion and I got up on stage at the concert and spoke to the public…well rewind a few weeks and here we are at this story. My companion and I are roaming the streets again trying to find new investigators when we stumbled upon a man that just so happened to be the second in line of the Catholic Church leadership for the town. We of course didn’t know that until after I opened my mouth and started to talk with him about the Book of Mormon. We taught him how the book came to be and the blessings he could receive from its teachings and the restored gospel.

                He told us his position and profession of course within the church and how even though the story we just told him sounded good he couldn’t leave the Catholic Church. As a last ditch effort I made a compromise with him to just read Moroni’s promise and to pray and ask God what he should do. He agreed and we went on our way. The Catholic culture is very strong in Latin America of course and more so in the rural areas. The city is built much like Salt Lake City; everything is centered on the chapel and built outward. Just in their case things are built around the Catholic buildings and chapels. Every Sunday morning the bell would ring and the singing over the loud speaker would commence. Once the singing ended the speaker would say a message so the whole town could hear. We got used to it over time and rarely paid any mind to it, until this particular Sunday. As we were walking down the hill towards our chapel we heard the voice of the man start preaching, except this time we recognized the voice of being Jose, the man we taught earlier in the week. Then to our surprise he says let me open to the book of Moroni. We stopped dead in our tracks not believing what we just heard. Across the loud speaker came the small passage that we had asked him to read in Moroni 10: 3-5. He then asked the congregation if they thought this was true what he had just read, unanimously the crowd agreed. He then broke the news to them that it was the Book of Mormon that he was reading. He then took of course the message onto prayer and nothing more happened.

                For my companion and I of course we thought finally this dead area that has yielded 0 baptisms in years will now baptize the whole city! We rushed over to his home immediately after church and he related a dream he had the previous night. He was told by Heavenly Father himself he said that this book was true scripture and that its teachings were true. We continued to teach him the lessons discreetly and even told the mission president about him. For the first time in my mission President Call came and taught a lesson with us and eventually baptized Jose. Unfortunately we didn’t baptize the whole city but you better believe we got some referrals from it all.

                You never know what seed you plant that will have a life changing impact on someone. No efforts go wasted in the Lord’s work. Keep an eternal perspective in life and God will take care of the temporal things. I know the Book of Mormon along with the Bible contain the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Together we know how to make it back to live with our families forever. Let us share this blessing with everyone, no matter who they are so the blessings we enjoy on a daily basis can be had by all.

 Jose's Baptism with President Call and Elder Ramos.

Enduring to the End

          About 8 months into my mission I learned a lesson that still to this day serves me well. I was a senior companion and trainer for the first time. Naturally I wanted to set a great example for this new missionary no matter what. I wanted to show a strong worth ethic, how to effectively teach and bear testimony of the restored gospel, and overall be successful.

                I have said this before but successful people do what the un-successful are unwilling to do. It wasn’t long into this journey that I came down with a serious parasite called Giardia. This particular parasite really attacks your intestines and midsection. After a long first night I woke up so sore it was hard to walk and get out of bed, but none the less the work needed to continue. Most would call it a day and stay home, but I wanted to be successful which means doing what everyone else is unwilling to do.  We prepared just like any other day and set out to work. As the day carried on I struggled to walk but felt the lord carry me from house to house. We found several new families to teach that day and set a baptismal date with a family that we had been working with for a few weeks. The day was shaping up to be one of the best of my mission so far. As we started towards our final appointment of the day, I can still remember this as though it happened yesterday. We were walking and took a short cut across a soccer field when all of the sudden I collapsed and could not get up. After a few minutes I was able to muster enough strength to get up and go to the branch president’s house where he finally took us home.

                After a long day I was bed stuck and laid there thinking while trying to get some rest. I was back at it the next day and with some medicine things slowly started getting better. I didn’t know this at the time but later on that family we set a baptismal date with realized that goal and were baptized, and to top it off one of the new families that we found to teach for the first time that first day I was sick ended up getting baptized as well.

                This was the first time I started to notice a trend. Some days are harder to be obedient than others. Those days that it is harder to get to church or read the scriptures for example are the days that, when obedient, are life changers. Satan doesn’t care as much if I attend church on those normal days, but when he knows something is going to happen that day with eternal ramifications he will do everything he can to stop it. That is why it is so important to always go the extra mile, never settle, and do what everyone else is unwilling to do. I know that if we persevere and never get complacent we will always find ourselves in the right place and full of experiences that will serve us throughout our lives.

The Sacrament

When did I get my testimony of the sacrament? The thought “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone” comes to mind. I have taken the sacrament since I was baptized 16 years ago. While on my mission I worked daily to get people to the church for the sole purpose of seeing how the sacrament was administered and with the hope that someday they would be able to make promises through baptism. Just before coming home I had made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t miss the sacrament ever again for the rest of my life.

After thinking about it there is nothing more important than that hour on Sunday. No sales call with a potential customer, job interview, or golf tee time would be more important than renewing my covenants each and every Sunday. I made a very good effort for quite a while until one week I had to work on a Sunday during the time my sacrament was held, the following week I was out of town camping, and then a 3^rd week in a row I was gone again for something else.

Finally the 4^th week I was able to make it back and take the sacrament. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that my life and overall feeling during those 3 weeks was a lonely and one of the more temptation filled weeks of my life. All my usual tasks like work and life in general were extra tough and yet temptations that usually had no effect on me were constantly taxing on my mind. I would think how easy it would be to sin and just repent later. The feeling was ugly and Sunday couldn’t come sooner.

Once back in the “groove” being able to take the sacrament weekly I was filled again with the power to resist temptation. I guess never up until that point I took for granted or never understood how much armor I was wearing over the years to deflect failure and temptation.

The lesson learned is to never forget how important that morsel of bread and swig of water is each Sunday.  Satan knows the importance and will do what he can to make sure we are busy, too tired, invitations from friends, or money get in the way of use being present for that one hour session of church each Sunday. I know that the sacrament provides protection from the adversary and strength to us so we can be successful temporally and spiritually each and every week of our lives.  What a gift it truly is.

Patriarchal Blessings

                I remember reading my patriarchal blessing before leaving on my mission. I was going to a country where war and gang violence has been a life style for years. Although things have gotten better in the country it didn’t help ease the anxiety of my Mom. She was sending her baby boy to a place that was everything but Wyoming. We read the blessing and it clearly stated that I would be moved from harm’s way throughout my mission and that nothing would happen to me to keep me from being able to preach the gospel.

                While in the MTC we were playing basketball on our gym hour and during the game I hurt my thumb. The middle joint got hurt somehow, but to this day my finger still gets stuck when I try to bend it sometimes. Weird I know, but the point is after this happened I couldn’t get the thought out of my head that I was supposed to be protected while on my mission that no harm was supposed to fall on me, yet here I was just a few weeks into the mission and my thumb is broken. You wouldn’t believe the other doubts that started to flood into my mind. If my patriarchal blessing wasn’t real then what was? It wasn’t for a few days that I realized my stupidity and was able to get it out of my head. It would be another 16 months until I would understand the true meaning of that line my mom and I had read.

                While in an area called Juayua, I was going to find a referral that we had been given for a younger kid that was interested in learning more about the church.  We knocked on the door and no one was home we started to leave when I was asked by a group of kids in the street what we were doing knocking on that door. I proceeded to tell them that we were looking for a teenager that was interested in the gospel. The guy told us that he was his cousin and as his cousin we could never come back again. I said ok and we started to leave, but before I could he said “but hey gringo, if you want to leave you need to give me a quarter.” (El Salvador uses US currency) Sarcastically I replied that all I had was a few dollars but no quarters. He then pulled out a gun and asked me again for a quarter. I again replied that I would be happy to give him a dollar but I had no quarter and turned around and started to walk away. Even angrier now he shouted “Gringo, if you don’t stop and give me a quarter I will shoot you in the back of the head!” As I continued to walk away I replied “ok!” I’m sure the member was scared out of his mind by this point but we kept walking and nothing happened.

                I don’t know why he never shot. He may have been bluffing the whole time, the gun could have misfired, and maybe it was a fake or didn’t have any bullets. What I do know is that my patriarchal blessing promised me protection to the point that it would not get in the way of the work. I then realized that I was never promised protection from hurt thumbs because I could still teach the gospel with a broken thumb, I couldn’t however teach the gospel with a bullet in my head.

                Satan always tries to get us to jump to conclusions about or faith or even life in general when something goes wrong, it is important not to lose sight of the big picture, the long term, the eternal prospective of things. The even better part of all that is that Heavenly Father gives us a unique tool to help us not lose that sight, your patriarchal blessing.

               

Power of Testimonies

                Thinking back on high school, I remembered a special moment I had my senior year. The year was just about over and as it is customary in seminary all seniors bore their testimonies a week or two prior to the end of the school year in class for the underclassman. Usually it was a re-assurance for the younger students that seminary was fun, worth the time, and a chance to gain a true testimony. I myself didn’t LOVE seminary all that much, but I knew the importance it played in my life during those critical years. Little did I know then that my future mother in law was there every day, so it was good that I behaved and never skipped class to do something different.

                It was my turn to bear my testimony, and I remember thinking how adamant I was not to spend the whole time telling the underclassmen how great seminary was for me, but rather a pure heart felt testimony. I don’t remember what I said; all I remember was that I kept it simple. As class ended I carried on throughout my day as if it were any normal day. A few days later when I went back to seminary, the underclassmen were given the opportunity to share their testimonies towards the end of the class period. Most reflected back on their first or second years in seminary, and it felt just like any other testimony meeting.

                I bet you are wondering what the big deal is with this story, well up to this point I hadn’t realized anything significant either. Unbeknownst to me and everyone else at the time, a big deal happened to a struggling freshman. He got up in front of the class and started to tell a story. He said he was really not understanding how God could call Joseph Smith at just 14 years old to be a prophet and to restore the church once again on the earth, or how this same God could care or even know of his problems. He then proceeded to say how he decided to give it all a fighting chance until the school year ended. His eyes lifted up from the floor and he said that my testimony a few days previous was as if God himself was speaking through me to him. My testimony of the restoration and our Heavenly Father brought a feeling that was undeniable to him. He publicly thanked me for my testimony and said that because of my testimony he now had one.

                As I sat there and listened to him say these things I was flabbergasted. Never before had I been used like that by the Lord to help someone spiritually. It made me think back over the years of how many times I had bore my testimony and who knew how many lives were possibly changed as such, or the opposite even due to my lack of speaking out. From that day on I have tried to never let a chance to share my testimony go by because we never know whose prayers might be answered by our words or what experiences I have had in the past that I could share to help someone else in a time of need.

                I know that everyday whether we know it or not, God has plans for us. Plans that could impact ourselves, individuals, or even generations, and the great thing about all of it is the Holy Ghost is there to help us never let an opportunity pass unanswered as long as we do our part to listen. God has a plan, we are part of it, and all that is needed for that plan to fail is for us to do nothing.  I know he lives and I know he loves us.

Baptism

                I am grateful for the unique baptism I was able to have. Unlike most baptisms mine was not held in a chapel. I had the opportunity to be baptized by my Dad in a river. The Green River in Wyoming, where the pioneers crossed while making it to Utah was the venue right alongside my best friend. Of course this didn’t take place in June or July, rather late September. I remember the overcast day getting changed in the back of our gold mini van while my brothers held up a sheet over the back tail gate to cover me.

                I can still remember stepping foot into that freezing cold Wyoming water with my socks on and thinking I couldn’t get baptized with them on. I quickly jumped out and took them off before proceeding. As I held my Dads hand I remember looking down into the water and seeing the current race underneath us. Before I knew what had happened I was under the cold water and back up again a new boy. Then I don’t think I realized some of the things I do know, but for an eight year old kid I do remember making one connection as I got out of the water and looked back at the river. I remember thinking how glad I was that those sins were racing down the river away from me forever.

                We took pictures and headed back to my friend’s house, and I can still remember the determination I had to stay that clean forever. As anyone who knows me it didn’t take long for that conviction to break, but thanks to Jesus Christ we all have something very valuable that can help us re-up on those convictions we all had at our baptisms. Through the sacrament we are essentially baptized again each week and have the opportunity to start over. I know that God forgives us of our sins and time and time again lets us start over. I hope I never take for granted that opportunity given to change each week and not stick to the same lifestyle that brings me back to repentance so often. I hope that through his help I can get out of those ruts and get better each week. Hopefully take off sin at a time in my journey to become like Him.

                I know it is possible. I know through the power of the Holy Ghost that was given to me after that cold September day that the authority to perform such ordinances is here on this earth today. We have been given permission by God to act in his name, and by all means let’s do so.

Fast Offerings

            A few months ago we had a lesson on fast offerings. It wasn’t any different then the countless meetings I have had before on the subject but for some reason I really felt inspired by this particular lesson. I always paid fast offerings because I knew it helped those less fortunate with food or other things they stood in need of, but never before had paid it because of the blessings promised for doing it. In our lesson we talked about the faith to pay more than usual on fast Sunday and if so the Lord would thank you for it in countless ways. Some say they always get the money spent back in random ways, while others say the Lord will make it up to you in testimony or just a good feeling at the end of the day.

            Looking back over the years I never recalled getting anything in return for paying fast offerings, but then again I never really expected or looked for something. That Sunday though I felt very sure that someone needed extra this month and by exercising faith the Lord would make it up to us. I once heard the saying; “The Lord will never let you give yourself poor” if he is in charge of everything in the universe that seemed pretty true. Jesus Christ talked about the birds and animals in The Book of Mormon, they never work or pay for their food, but instead they do their part and hope that God will provide for them. He then asked aren’t we greater then they, and if so why wouldn’t God provide for us?

            I remember writing that fast offering check and making sure we paid close to triple the amount we usually did knowing that the Lord would not let us give ourselves poor. The next day I went to work like always and by the end of the day was surprised to hear the company was doing layoffs. I started to worry and think about that fast offering check we had wrote, and thinking if I didn’t have a job by the end of the day we would really be needing it. To my surprise however I ended up getting a promotion along with a 42% pay increase to go along with it! How could I get a raise during layoffs? I thought about it for a few days and came to the only logical conclusion that I could, the fast offerings were paid with a willing heart, and God received it. As such families were blessed because of it with food, shelter or whatever they needed, while our family too reaped the rewards!

            I know our Heavenly Father is waiting patiently to bless us, but is only able to if we do our part in exercising faith first to act. I know he smiles and loves when we do what is right, and because of obedience to the laws we are happier. I know that He is aware of everything we do, and always ready to help his children. I know that we are his children and as long as we come to him he will receive us with outstretched arms. The invitation is always there, it is up to us to accept it.

Importance of Fathers

                Many things in life can be attributed to coincidence, while others can’t. It could be coincidence that my parents met over 30 years ago. My Dad always told me how he spent years listening to missionaries and learning about the gospel. With most Christian churches the gospel they teach doesn’t vary from religion to religion. With the restored gospel of Jesus Christ there have been a few distinguishing characteristics that were restored along with the priesthood and fullness of the gospel. It was one of these distinguishing characteristics that the missionaries taught my Dad and opened his eyes to something he had been looking for. The concept of eternal families is something that is cherished by members of the church and helped bring my Dad and eventually my family together forever.

                I attribute the choice my Dad made that day to several things over the years. He raised 4 boys the best he could. He taught me how to be successful, spiritually and temporally, either through example or long talks. Successful people are successful for one reason; they are willing to do what unsuccessful people are unwilling to.  My Dad was willing to take the hard route of raising his family in the gospel and for that I and my family are eternally grateful. Because he chose to raise us in the gospel and help teach us all four of us boys what he knew to be true, we went on missions to several parts of the world. Because of the choice he made to take the hard road and raise us in the gospel, all four of us were able to teach thousands of people all over the world about the gospel and share with them the blessings we have been enjoying for several years.

                I have seen several families with the lack of a Father, and the difference is night and day. We all have a Heavenly Father that is always there for us. I know he wants what is best for us, and I know that my dad is what is best for me on this earth. I am spoiled to have been so lucky to have someone like him in my life. Now that I am a dad I can see myself taking the same route that I was raised. I want Duncan and the future kids of Brooke and me to be successful spiritually and temporally. Someday my wish is that of my dad’s; to have an eternal family. I know that there is a plan set by our heavenly father. He wants us to be happy, and I am most happy when I am with my family. 

The Pure Love of Christ

                We are constantly taught that if we ever want to find true happiness in life it can be done only through developing charity towards everyone. Charity is the pure love of Jesus Christ, and anyone that learns to be filled with it either through service, understanding the life of Jesus Christ, selflessness, humility, or meekness will be unable to fall into temptation or depression that the devil so eagerly tries to tie us down with.

                One of my favorite passages of scripture is in Moroni 7:41-48. It talks about having hope and faith, and how can we get such a thing in our lives. If you haven’t ever read the scriptures backwards here is your chance! Start reading from the end of the chapter backwards to verse 41, and you will see a nice formula on how to achieve true happiness in this life, which is that HOPE and FAITH that we are all working for a greater good. Looking back on my life to this point I can see plain as day the times when I am most happy and the times were I feel depressed and lazy. There are a few things at play each time. First and foremost is service to those around me. When I am forgetting about myself and the things that I need to do, and that time and thought is replaced with someone else through service there is an unmistakable feeling that overcomes me. While serving a mission I was at a constant high, and I felt this way because I was always helping my companion and the people in the area that I served. When I got home from my mission it stopped, I got caught up in getting my life started with school and work to a point that service became a nuisance to me. It wasn’t long before I was unhappy and didn’t know why.

                Just like the pride cycle we see in the Book of Mormon, I see a service/charity cycle in my life. I see a need for Charity and service, when I act upon that need and serve others I am happy. Over time that changes and I find myself wrapped up in myself. Unfortunately, just like the pride cycle it takes a too long for me to realize what went missing. Once I realize it and get back on the horse life starts getting better.

                I know we have a VERY patient Heavenly Father that sees these trends in my life and I am sure most everyone’s lives.  No matter the point on the time line he continues to bless us and knead us back to him. Please read 3 Nephi 9:13-14. The constant reminder that He is always welcoming us back with outstretched arms is a beacon of hope to me. If we are found without Charity, ask him for some of his so that we can start to feel his warmth, then that warmth will brighten our days bringing hope and faith that we can become better. Each time I get to that point I can’t help but want to share that with those around me, and before long I am engaged in full-fledged service to those around me and strangers alike. Let us not forget why we are here on this earth. It is to collectively head back to our Father in Heaven.

                There are countless ways for us to serve. We can do small acts of kindness to those around us that last just a small time, and we can do everlasting acts of kindness at the Temple for those who have not received the blessings the temple brings to us. I know this life is one of hard work that will never end; those not filled with Charity will see that as overwhelming and want to give up because the task seems too large. Just as a reminder, we are all in this together; there is strength in numbers and in the gospel. Serve constantly and be eternally happy. I know this is true as I have seen it time and time again. Onward Christian solders!

Prophets of Old in Our Day

Mid-way through my mission I was assigned as a Zone Leader to a zone that had the least amount of converts in the mission. The zone had been that way for some time. To make things even more difficult I was assigned to an area that hadn’t had a baptism in over a year and a half! How was I supposed to set an example to these Elders if my area was worse off than theirs? Why would any mission area be so dead? Well, the entire area consisted of about 6 square blocks. After just a few weeks I think I knew every resident in my area by name, at least it felt that way. I wasn’t about to spend the next six to eight months of my mission doing nothing productive. My companion and I started thinking of ways to change our attitudes, our area, the zone, and the conception of the Church to the residents who thought they already knew everything there was to know of the Church.

                I started to think of the missionaries in the scriptures as we read of their stories. They baptized thousands of people, huge gatherings of people would come to hear them preach of Jesus Christ, and here I was just talking to one person at a time. We would just knock on one door with the hope of finding one person to teach. If I continued to teach just a few people at a time I would continue to see the same results of just a few converts. If we amped up that number and started to teach lessons just as the prophets of old did to large groups of people, our odds of baptizing and converting more people would have to increase too! That is exactly what were started to do.

                Anytime we got on the bus to go to another city we would get up in front of everyone and bear our testimonies, sing hymns, or teach of the restoration of the gospel. We stopped waiting for the people to come to us; we found large groups and found ways for them to hear our voices. On one particular Sunday afternoon in the town square there was a swap meet and concert. Thousands of people were there from all over, many from different cities. It was there when we saw OUR multitude of people. We knew we had to get up there, so we did what anyone would do. We found the man in charge of the stage and bore our testimonies to him, and kindly asked if we could have 5 minutes on stage to address the audience. To our surprise the Holy Ghost touched his heart and he let us on as soon as the song was finished! The announcer saw my companion and I walk up on stage. He had the microphone in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Once he realized who we were the jokes immediately started to fly out, but alas he handed me the microphone. As I stared out over the crowd I knew everyone was thinking, what is this White American kid going to say, and can he even speak Spanish? I opened my mouth just as the scriptures tell us to. What came out was definitely not along the lines of what I had planned. My first words were for everyone to repent!! It was Sunday, and they were not worshiping the Lord, their families were at home without them. Again, to my surprise the boos didn’t come. The crowd got eerily silent and started to listen. I bore my testimony and handed the microphone to my companion who then proceeded to reprimand the crowd again on the word of wisdom. Not a second after, the announcer threw his cigarette on the ground, people started putting their beer away, and one by one the crowd started to disperse. We closed and left the stage, the entire town square slowly vacated. Some people came up to us afterword and thanked us for out boldness, and some asked how they could learn more about what they just felt inside.
                 We couldn’t get time to meet with each person individually after the concert so we scheduled a large conference at the chapel the following week for everyone who was interested could come and hear about the gospel. People came, and baptisms in that area were no longer a problem. Like a snow ball we grew to the second largest zone in the mission! I know that there are people out there ready to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ just like they did in the scriptures. It takes willing hearts, and a mindset just like the prophets of old to reap the same rewards, but I know it is possible even in our day to see the miracles we read about.

         

Saving Ordinances

                While on my Mission was I assigned to my second area in about the most rural area on the planet…seriously look it up…go to Google maps and type in “El Sauce, San Julián, Sonsonate, El Salvador”. We didn't have a chapel there, but we rented a house where we held the Sunday meetings. For baptisms we had to go to a close by town called Izalco just to the North West. This was my second area and the first week as being a trainer. Of course I wanted to make sure my new companion felt welcome to the mission.

                The first week was full of great things. We had two families set to be married on Friday, baptized on Saturday and confirmed Sunday. The weddings went great, we loaned the two guys our suits and ties, took pictures and everything was in place for the baptisms the next day. I called to elders that night to fill up the baptismal font for us the next day as we always did. As I woke up the next day I heard some news that would start a fight between the adversary and me for the next 12 hours. The elders in the Izalco area went that morning first thing to fill up the font and the water was not working! In a panic I picked up the phone and called the branch president looking for a pool or something that would be big enough for the baptisms, determined to help these two young families realize their dream of becoming clean once again through baptism. We found a natural spring just a few miles away that was clean enough for the ceremonies. It was however against mission rules to baptize outside the church without permission from the Mission President. I called him and after explaining what had happened he gave us the OK to do the baptisms in the river under one condition. The baptisms had to be in a reverent place where the spirit could reside. I agreed and we were off to gather everyone. No one in the town had a car that we knew so we would always go to the main park and try to find someone with a truck that we could pay for a ride. After some bargaining we found a truck and loaded the two families up along with a few members from the branch to Caluco.

                At that moment I felt like I had won, there was nothing in our way now to stop these baptisms. As we pulled up to the river my heart sank as I heard the voice of my mission president play over in my head. An evangelical church was already there performing baptisms. The electric guitars, drums, speakers, microphones and 30+ people singing and chanting made my presidents one rule echo over and over again in my head. Of course no one with me at the time knew of the conditions so we continues to get ready in hopes that they would be wrapping up and we could have our turn in peace and quiet. Once we were all ready it became apparent they were just getting started too. We walked up stream a few feet and waited. Knowing in my heart we could not perform the baptisms without the spirit I leaned to the Lord for his help. I said a prayer in my heart for something to happen so we could have the spirit long enough to help these two families receive this saving ordinance. Just as I said amen, a quiet struck the river. The power had gone out!! All of the sudden we had all of our members plus 30 “investigators” watching us! It was perfect; the spirit was there, we performed the baptisms as everyone watched. Once the last person had gotten out of the water, the power came back on, not a second later!

               I know prayers are answered. God knows the importance of obedience to his commandments. He will prepare the way for us to follow him so long as we exercise faith and diligence. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. His authority and power was restored on the earth through Joseph Smith to perform saving ordinances once again.

                

The Power of Obedience

               

                Recently married, Brooke and I made a mutual goal to go to the temple once a week. We lived in the Avenues of Salt Lake City and were only about 3 blocks from Temple Square so the goal was even easier. We held to our goal for several months and the blessings were great.

                At the time I was studying at the LDS Business College downtown. I had classes from 7 in the morning until about noon every day of the week. I worked the swing shift from 2:00 pm to 11:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday. The temples of course weren’t open on Sunday or Monday. We would usually go Saturday morning since I didn’t have school on the weekends before I had to go to work. So my days usually consisted of going to school, rushing home to eat some lunch and study for an hour and then head 30 minutes to Sandy in time for work, then getting home at midnight just to start it all over again the next day.

                On one particular week we couldn’t make it to the temple on Saturday morning. I knew if we didn’t make it on Saturday there just wouldn’t be the time in the week to go. On Monday while in my institute class my teacher mentioned priorities. He talked about putting the things that mattered to the Lord first in your life and the things you felt mattered last. If the Lord saw it fit that they were also important they would work themselves into your life just fine or fall out of place just as easily, and both ways you would be better off for it. Often time we spend time worrying in life about things that just don’t matter as much as we think they do and the things in life that really do matter get pushed to the side and forgotten. As he told us this I thought about the Temple and how we failed to go that weekend. Discouraged because of my schedule I didn’t think it was possible for us to go mid-week and keep our goal. Oh, and did I mention I had mid-terms this week!? I thought about what he said for the rest of the day and well into Tuesday. That night I decided that we should go to the Temple the next day. It just so happens that ALL my tests fell on the same day! They were going to be in class on Thursday. Without missing a beat I put my trust in the Lord and put it aside and went to the Temple, not sure when or how I was going to study for these exams. The plan was to use the 2 hours between work and school from noon to 2:00 to go and to leave straight from the temple to work.

                We went to the temple and the experience was great! It felt so good to have kept our goal for another week without fail. Once the session got out I rushed to work. I thought to myself that I would just cram for the tests as soon as I got home. Well once I got home that lasted about 30 minutes until I passed out. I woke up the next morning in a panic. I had not studied for my tests and they were today! I did all I could to find time at a stop light to look over a question or two, and to read while going up the stairs class. As I sat down in my first class the anxiety settled. I wasn’t sure why but the words of my institute teacher kept ringing in my head. As the teacher stood up the first words out of her mouth were “I had a crazy night and wasn’t able to print the tests so we will have the exam next week!”  Astonished at what I just heard, I knew the promise rang true. I must have been dazed as I went to the next class because I couldn’t remember how I got there, but to my surprise it was as if I was in an episode of Groundhogs day. That exam was cancelled too! In fact each and every test that day was cancelled due to some reason or another. To this day I have never had an exam postponed or cancelled but for some reason that day all of mine were, and that reason was because I put the Lord first and my priorities last. The important things feel into place and the not so important things fell out.

                Obedience is the key to happiness. Don’t let pride or life get in the way of it. We are not on this earth to work, save money, take mid-terms, and pass through the motions of everyday life. We are here for one thing only, and that is to make it back to our Heavenly Father once more. He has given us the recipe to be successful in this task; all we have to do is follow it. I know He lives and is aware of our circumstances. He knows what is to come and what is best for us, shouldn’t we listen to him then?

                                                                                                

The Value of a Mother

                I was in my first area while on my mission in El Salvador. We were lucky to have a family make us lunch most of the days. I grew to love the family over the 7 months that I was in the area. One of my main goals while in the area was to help this family grow closer together. They weren't accustomed to being active in the church and with their kids starting their teenage years the idea of establishing a gospel related habit was much harder.

                We held several family home evenings with the family in an effort to help them into full activity to the church. On one particular evening we were teaching a lesson to them and as my companion was speaking I couldn’t help but think what else we could do to help them. I felt as if we had taught them everything but kept yielding the same results. I started to day dream I felt as I kept thinking about this and I was took back to my home. Growing up my Dad always left for work before any of us were awake. My Mom made an honest effort to make sure we read the scriptures before going to school. I can still hear her yelling promptly at 7:20 AM each day “its 7:20, time to read!” Without fail she would make sure we were all there to read no matter the circumstances. It took a lot of faith by her to keep it up considering most of the time we came unwillingly. I know several days when she would call on one of us to read and someone would be asleep or completely unaware of our location in the reading. I’m sure it was disappointing most of the time to her, after all the effort she went to. I knew then that it was good to read each day, but didn't ever understand how much good it really did for us until now. I was thankful for her diligence.

                It wasn’t until I “came back” to that room in El Salvador that I realized the impact of reading the scriptures had on our family. I knew then that it was because of my Moms conviction to reading the scriptures that we all stayed closely knit. Once I realized this I couldn’t help but interrupt my companion and share the idea with this family. They started implementing daily scripture study as we visited each day for lunch and it wasn’t more than a few weeks before they started coming back to church as a family and participating as if they never stopped coming. It was gratifying to know that we were able to help them, but even more so to know that my Mom knew the importance of this before it was too late for us.

                Furthermore, to see my wife and mother of my child doing the same thing even though he can’t understand means the world to me. I am lucky to have a Mother that cherishes the gospel and knows the importance of it and even more so to have a wife that knows the same.

                There is strength in the family unit, and the women in our lives are pure blessings from our Heavenly Father. I love you Mom!

The Armor of God

When I was just entering into high school I remember a talk given by President Hinckley about scripture study. He passed by the usual topic of the importance of reading the scriptures, shared some of the stories we all know and love, and everything appeared to be just a normal run-of-the-mill talk on scriptures. Unfortunately, when talks go that direction I have a bad habit of tuning out the speaker and start thinking about other things, but luckily enough for me President Hinckley then said a phrase that has stuck with me to this day. I can’t find the talk he gave today but the words were similar to this; “I promise that if you read the Book of Mormon daily, you will be given the strength to resist any temptation from the adversary that may come upon you.”

To me there are 8 or so life changing events that remove us from one comfort zone and place us in another.  For example birth if an obvious one, then starting school for the first time, getting baptized, receiving the priesthood, starting high school, leaving home for the first time to either college or a mission, getting married, and starting a family. Each time one of these events pass by the need to fit in, to find yourself, and change to fit the new environment grows. We can no longer be the old person that fit in with the previous life section. I feel that Satan knows this all too well, and attacks harder at those who are in these transition stages.

At the time of President Hinckley’s talk I was in one of those transition stages just entering high school. I needed a way for ensure my testimony wouldn’t falter, a way to enter that stage of life confident and focused on making it to the next without stumbling. His promise to me and to all was my insurance plan. As long as I did my part to read the Book of Mormon every single day Satan would not be able to overtake me with temptations. High school introduces us to a new world of temptations, with drugs, alcohol, sex, language, disobedience, and much more all for that security of fitting in with the rest of the crowd. I knew I didn’t want to have any part in those things but also knew my weaknesses. I loved to fit in and have always had a tough time saying no when placed in such circumstances.

I leaned on the Prophets promise and read The Book of Mormon daily without fail. When I stepped foot in the MTC I could honestly say that I had not missed one day of reading The Book of Mormon since his talk. Some days all I could muster was one verse, but I would do at least that to maintain obedience to the promise. Not reading the scriptures became as needed as eating and sleeping. I can remember lying awake some nights having not read the scriptures for the day and having guilt overwhelm me until I would break down and read. At that point I came to realize two things. First, The Book of Mormon was true. How could a false book bring so much emotion to me if it weren’t from God? Secondly, President Hinckley’s promise also rang true. I knew I had to read if I wanted to stay clean from sin. I feared God and that fear led me to follow his words.

Throughout the four years of high school I can remember several situations where I was in the oven of temptation, having choices right before me to fall away from the teaching of the Savior, but each time I felt strength greater than my own remove me from harm and reward me for my preparedness in reading daily. I know that God keeps his end of promises, and he rewards obedience. This gospel is true and The Book of Mormon protects us from the natural man. 

Dear Dunk

Dear Dunk:                                                                                                                         November 6, 2011

This morning, I woke up and was kind of bored, so you and I went downstairs to watch some TV.  I put you in your ExerSaucer that has all sorts of toys and music and things to occupy you.  It lets you stand, jump around, spin, and have a good time.  As I was flipping through the channels, you paid no attention to what was on the TV because of all the fun toys you had at your reach.  I came upon the KBYU channel where a rebroadcast of President Thomas S. Monson was airing.  As soon as President Monson’s voice left the speakers of the television, it was as if a light bulb turned on inside your head.  You immediately recognized the voice as if it was your mother’s or my own.  You threw the rattle that was in your hand half-way across the room (which is pretty far for just a little guy…) and spun around 180 degrees toward the sound of the Prophet’s voice.  You gave President Monson the same excited face you give when your mother or I come into the room after you haven’t seen one of us for a while.  You immediately sat down in your ExerSaucer, tilted your head to the right, and watched intently as the Prophet spoke. 

                I had many thoughts running through my head as I saw this happening.  How could, simply, a voice draw the attention of you, a six-month-old baby, away from all the colors, toys, music, and fun right at your fingertips?  How could you have recognized a prophet’s voice as easily as one of your parents’ voices when you have only previously heard him speak once in your life?  Why don’t I pay the same notice whenever I hear the prophet’s voice? 

                I think the only way that the voice of the Prophet could draw your attention away from that toy of yours would be if you heard the Savior’s voice through him.  This reminded me that only six short months ago you were in His presence.  This serves as a testimony to me that we are all God’s children and that he has entrusted your care and spiritual well-being to your mom and I.  You didn’t turn toward the television when we were on any previous channel, listening to any other person; you turned only toward the Prophet. 

I have only really grown up with two prophets in my lifetime so far.  I remember the day when I received the testimony that President Gordon B. Hinckley was called of God to be His prophet.  I was in the Missionary Training Center and I was lucky enough to be there during General Conference.  Up until that point I had not ever received a personal testimony that he was, indeed, called of God.  The day I heard him speak while I was in the MTC, the Spirit testified to me that he was the Prophet through a feeling that I cannot describe in words.  A year and a half later, President Hinckley passed away and President Monson was called to be the Prophet in his stead.  That was almost four years ago.  I have always followed President Monson’s counsel, but ever since he was called, I have been looking for that same feeling to reaffirm my testimony.  Today you gave that to me. 

                I know, now, through your example that, while in heaven, there were only a handful of people you watched so you would recognize them here on earth—your mother and I, other family members, and the leaders of the church.   Today your future siblings saw your example, and I am sure they felt the same way I did when you showed your testimony of the Prophet of God.  I know that you are a child of God and that President Monson is the true Prophet of God called to lead and guide us back to Heavenly Father’s presence.  A modern day Moses, or Abraham, was on our television this morning, and you had the obedience that so many are lacking in our day to turn to the Prophet and heed his call.  I pray that you will always keep that obedience.

I love you,

Dad

The Prophet of Temples

The Prophet of Temples

All of my adolescent life was during the life and presidency of Gordon B. Hinckley. He became the president of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in March of 1995, when I was just 8 years old. I listened to his council all through my teen age years and while on my mission. I even saw him in real life once while my family lived in Riverton, Wyoming during the dedication of Martins Cove.

                Gordon B. Hinckley was known for many things, but more than anything he was to credit for his vision of the Temples. He dedicated 76 temples in just eleven years. Worldwide temples grew from just 46 to 124 in this short time. This changed the church forever in my eyes. Now members across the world had the opportunity to get their endowments without having to travel for days to find the nearest temple. Right before I left on my mission in 2006 I had the temple to do the same thing. The blessings that these ordinances offered to my life are something that I can’t begin to express. To keep it short, a life without these blessings would be tenfold more difficult. While on my mission for the church these blessings and the spiritual power that I received from these covenants made the difference for me.

                While in the MTC in Provo Utah I had a rare opportunity to be there during General Conference in the fall of 2006. I had always heard of people say how great it is to be in the MTC during conference weekend. To be honest I was pretty skeptical, but knew I needed to get the most out of it. During the first few weeks most missionaries including myself go through a real self-finding process. It is the longest stretch without seeing or talking with family, one is constantly surrounded by the gospel, and with the added pressure of trying to learn a new language in just 2 months led me to draw help from any angle I could. With this search comes doubts, and one of those doubts that I had was if this guy that I had been listening to and following all these years was really a Prophet of God. Did my Heavenly Father actually call him, Gordon B. Hinckley to be a prophet, seer, and revelator in my day, just like he did with Noah, Moses, Isaiah, Abraham, and all the others?

                Instead of just assuming that he was, I made a plan to find out for sure. The way I saw it, only one person actually knew the truth and that was God. Leading up to the conference I had fasted and prayed that he would help me know for sure if President Hinckley was his prophet. Conference day came and I had still not received an answer to my prayers. The doubt still lingered in my mind. As we started walking to the meeting hall to watch and listen to conference the thought came to my mind that maybe my prayers would be answered during the conference. I remembered the story of when Brigham Young was called to be the prophet following the death of Joseph Smith. As Brigham Young made his first speech those in attendance said the saw Joseph Smith, as if his voice was coming through Brigham Young. This experience gave most members the testimony that he as truly called of God to replace Joseph Smith as the current prophet of His Church.

                We walked in and sat down and listened to the prelude music. The very first speaker was non-other than President Hinckley. Immediately following his very first word, were tears that dripped across my face. Something overtook me to where I couldn’t hear what he was saying anymore, everything was tuned out expect for my thoughts telling me that this 96 year old man was called of God, the Eternal Father. Were they my thoughts or the words of the Lord in my heart it didn’t matter, I knew that my doubts were gone. He was a modern day Moses, Abraham, or Noah called of God to help me reach my full potential and led me and the other billions of people in the world back to God.

                I took that knowledge to El Salvador and spread it to everyone that I came in contact with. This knowledge and testimony that I had was a treasure and it needed to be shared with the world. About a year after that conference while I was in Provo, I was serving in the mission office as the Mission Presidents assistant. I got a call in the evening from President Call telling me the worst news I had heard in a long time. President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away and he needed me to call each zone to tell them the news. My heart sank as the only thought I had was regret that I didn’t seek out a personal testimony years before when I had the chance. I could have done more with this testimony if I had more time, but thankfully the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth. This means that a new prophet would be called. Not long after Thomas S. Monson was called to replace him did I earn a personal testimony that he too was called of God to serve as a Prophet and leader of the Church.

                I know that Jesus Christ has restored his gospel on the earth and with this restoration comes the blessing of prophets and the priesthood. Prayers are answered by our Heavenly Father, and more so he provides us answers through his servants.

Choose First the Kingdom of God

Choose first the kingdom of god

The summer of 2002, my Dad and I had the opportunity to build a house by ourselves. Growing up every house we had lived in was built by our family. Since I was the youngest of 4 boys I never contributed much to the houses we built, but now that I was 16 and my older brothers were either moved away or busy with another job it was up to my Dad and I to tackle this project.

The house was built at the top of the hill, overlooking most of Evanston. My Dad had saved up several days of paid time off; if I remember right it was about 2 months’ worth.  My Dad being the get it done and over with type, wanted to take advantage of every last minute that he had to finish this house. Our days started at 6:30 am. In the summer time the sun was just barley coming up. We would work hard all day building the house and would rarely come home before dark which came around 9:30 pm. Six days a week we worked. Being just old enough to date, having a good crew of friends that I loved hanging out with made this summer job especially tough. Looking back on it now I was grateful to have had spent those few months with my Dad, but at the time there were several days I wished I could be anywhere but there at that house. I remember being up on the roof and looking down the hill towards one of my best friend’s house and seeing the whole gang there having a great time playing games, barbequing,  and enjoying the warm weather that only lasted 3-4 months in Evanston. After a long school year everyone looks forward to a carefree summer full of fun memories, but at the time all I could do was look at the tiny paychecks that I would get from my Dad and sit back and watch my friends grow closer together without me.

As the summer came to an end so did the house. We did it! The house was finished and sold. My Dad paid me the remaining check and it all went to the bank, except for $500.00 of it that went to my new blue 1987 Honda CRX. As tradition in our home we were responsible for purchasing our own car if we wanted one, paying for the insurance and the gas along with anything else that would come with having a car. It was a great practice that my parents taught all of us boys to be responsible with our money, and I’m glad they did as it still serves me today when making purchases.

Several months pasted by and all the money I had made over the summer started to disappear in gas, insurance, and dates! I vividly remember seeing a bill from State Farm to pay my car insurance and knowing that it would be the last of my money I had saved up over the summer.  Nervous that no more money was coming in since I had not obtained another job since, I started to think about things to do. Ironically the very first thought that came to me was that of tithing. Looking back over the past few months it had hit me that I still had not paid my tithing on my summer earnings either! Now with two things needing money from me I stopped thinking of ways to rectify it afraid that I would think of more debts.

Faced with a decision, I remember hearing the voice of my parents, several Sunday school teachers, and the church leaders testify of the validity of tithing. If I would only trust the Lord, pay 1/10^th of all my earning that the Lord would open the windows of Heaven and so many blessing would come down on me that I would not even have enough room to receive them. I only had enough money to pay either the car insurance or the tithing. Because the Lord loves me and is always mindful of my spiritual wellbeing I was impulse to pay tithing, with the confidence and faith that the Lord would take care of the car insurance for me.

I wrote a check for ten percent of my summer earnings, leaving roughly just $3.00 in my bank account. Writing that check, thinking to myself of all the sacrifices that I made to get that money was almost more than I could bare to get my left hand to write the figure on the check. I handed the tithing envelope to Bishop Dennis and turned away leaving it all in the hands of the Lord. Church ended, my family and I headed towards the chapel door. I felt a tap on my shoulder and as I turned around I saw Brother Allred. He said “Scott, why don’t you stop by my office tomorrow after school? I want to run something by you.” I agreed, and as promised the next day I stopped by Castle Rock Chevrolet to pay him a visit. Without filling out an application, sending over my resume, or even asking for a job he offered me a position detailing cars, paying much more than my Father might I add! I could hardly believe my ears, I started that day. Heavenly Father really came through for me! He promised that if I would take a step of faith and pay my tithing, he would take care of me. I had this job all through high school, right up until the day I left on my mission to El Salvador. Because of the frugalness my parents taught me I was able to save up enough money to put me through most of college, pay for a wedding ring, a new car, and several other things that without it I have no idea how things would have gone.

I know that the principal of tithing is true. The prophets of old taught it, Jesus Christ taught it, and the prophets today continue to testify of its truthfulness. Along with their testimonies, I too testify by the power of the Holy Ghost that this principal is of God! As we live by it others are blessed and God takes care of those that care for others.

Humble Servants with the Lord’s Power

Humble Servants with the Lord’s Power

While serving in my second area on my mission in El Salvador, I had the opportunity to become a senior companion and a trainer. With this new responsibility came a lot of pressure and inner determination to be the best I could be. With this desire came countless prayers pleading for the Lord’s help in the matter. To my surprise the answer to those prayers came quicker than I expected.

It was early one morning when our phone rang at our place. It was our branch president. Immediately I knew something was wrong.  He asked that we come over as soon as possible. We ate lunch at their house every day and over the few months I had been in the area; I had grown a great love for their family. My new companion and I got dressed and headed over to their house. Once we got there, he sat with us in the front room and began to explain what was happening. They were a young family with two kids.  They were blessed with a boy that was 9 years old and a 6 year old daughter. For the past year, unbeknownst to us their daughter had been suffering with kidney problems. He explained that over the past 2 months the situation had grew worse. They went to several doctors in the area seeking different opinions, but to their discouragement each test result came back the same. I don’t remember what exactly the diagnosis was, but as he continued to explain the situation they were going to the hospital later that day for one final test before she was going to start dialysis and be placed on a list for a kidney transplant. He then looked up at me with tears in his eyes saying that in El Salvador kidneys don’t come, and without one she would be dead in a few years.

Spontaneously, I asked if he had given her a priesthood blessing knowing that the answer would be yes. He looked to the floor and shook his head as he said “Elder, I don’t think God can fix this. I need you to give her a blessing.” I agreed. I handed my oil vile to my trainee and asked him to do the anointing, as he grabbed it he looked at me and said “I have never given a priesthood blessing before Elder Fieber, what do I do?” I helped him with the words and he completed the anointing without a problem. I then laid my hands on his young daughters head to seal the anointing, but it was as if there was a force field over her head preventing me from touching her. I knew then that her Father had to do the blessing. He and his wife were praying in the adjacent room. I went over to him and told him he needed to do this. I bore my testimony of the power of the priesthood and gave him reassurance that he held that authority to heal his daughter. All that he lacked was the step of Faith! He agreed, and followed us into the room.

As he struggled to speak, the words of a loving earthly and heavenly father filled the room. After words the feeling in the room was such that no one had a doubt she would make a full recovery. We offered a prayer and left for the day. They followed us out the door in their way to an appointment they have dreaded for a week now, fearful for their daughters life.

As the day went on could help but think of them, my heart was drawn out in prayer for them. I knew in my mind that not only was their daughters’ physical life in stake but quite possibly their spiritual wellbeing as well. A struggling branch couldn’t afford for their leader to not believe in the priesthood power.

We got a call later that night once they got back in town. He began to explain that everyone was confused and baffled at the hospital. They went in for the first test and failed to find anything wrong with her kidneys. They ran another test, and yet another all coming back with results showing kidneys that were 100%. He then went on to tell me how the doctors began to pour through the other tests that were run on previous occasions trying to figure out how this incurable issue with her kidneys in now gone without any medical intervention. He then told me in a soft humble voice, “Elder Fieber, I knew how the tests were different, there wasn’t a medical intervention, but there indeed was a divine intervention that the doctors wouldn’t understand if I told them.” At that moment I felt as if I was in the scriptures with the prophets of old. I could hardly believe my ears either as he told me of the miracle. I had always believed the power of the priesthood was back on the earth, but when something like this happens to you first hand there is a different level of belief. I know now without doubt that through the prophet Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ restored his power on the earth. It was passed down to me today, and as long as I live my life as directed anything is possible. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Gods’ church in the latter days, restored so we can enjoy the blessings of his power in our lives just as those of old in the scriptures.