1. TOO MANY SELFIES: I HATE looking at the same selfie poses and same 'made up' or even digitally enhanced faces of the same person multiple times a day on Face Book. Really? You look the same in every pose. I really don't need to see you several times a day in the same 'practiced' pose. Why do you do it? Do you expect all your thousands of FB friends to say, "Oh, you are so beautiful!" over and over every day? Do you really need that, because we HATE it. It makes us want to unfriend you. It makes us think you are bragging. Usually you have prettier figures and faces than I do and are moaning on your posts how you are not attractive. Are you really that insecure that you have to manipulate people to tell you that you are beautiful, or do you really think we like to see you brag? Get over it. I'm tired of that ploy! I propose a selfie tax: for every selfie above and beyond an average of one a day, should have a tax levied against it.
2. TO STIMULUS CHECK COMPLAINERS: I can't believe recipients of the $1,200.00 checks are complaining. "It will only pay my rent...then what will I have?" Really? Pay your rent then. Go get in line for the free food that is distributed daily. If you would rather spend your money on food, your rent is deferred and you won't be evicted...but you WILL eventually have to pay your rent...so PAY YOUR RENT! OR...You could move to a cheaper place or live with a relative or friend for free and use your. $1,200 checks together. It WILL help a lot. Be grateful and take advantage of all the other offers people are giving you for free. There are jobs you can get immediately. You can apply for them or file for unemployment. People are bending over backwards to give you a break. Be grateful. Quit complaining. Be smart, and don't waste what you are given.
Monday, April 20, 2020
Monday, January 20, 2020
No matter where I go...
I've been to Janet's ward in Arkansas before. First impression? It's small...lots of older people...not a lot of children or teens...the chorister leaves a lot to be desired when she directs music. Nevertheless, the last time we were there, the speaker and R.S. lesson were awesome.
So when we walked into church this Sunday, I already had somewhat of an introduction to the ward. We were there so Mike and I could attend Jame's ordination to be a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. I was dropped off so Mike could park, walked in, and immediately was heartily welcomed as I entered and sat down on a lone bench, I intended to save for Janet's family when they arrived. I looked up to the stand and noticed 3 very old bishopric members and cringed as my eyes met the center member, i.e. the bishop and noticed he could hardly walk and was struggling to arise and walk towards me with a cane. I knew he was coming to greet me, and although it warmed my heart to know it was important to him, I didn't want to be the cause of any pain on my account. Fortunately, Mike entered and the bishop could greet us both.
As the meeting commenced, I could see no speakers on the stand. The bishop hobbled to the podium and announced that his counselors were the speakers. I watched as one stood to speak, but waited to help the bishop sit down before he approached the podium. The bishop had assigned them each to tell of testimony-producing experiences. The first one was rather casual in the way he spoke, but he mentioned that the bishop had prayed and prayed and still didn't know who was supposed to speak this week, then he said he felt his counselors should speak, and he knew what they should speak about.
The 2nd speaker was the opposite. He drew me in by telling his spiritual experiences being raised in a family where his father was in leadership positions in the Church. His family entertained several general authorities in their home--one being Gordon B. Hinkley. Another, Spencer. W. Kimball, was in the circle ordaining this young man to be an elder.
He told of miracles that happened on his mission in New Zealand, one when the eddy they baptized converts in was flooded into the river and as the day approached would not be able to be used, yet they prayed for the flood to go down to allow the baptism. Then, from the early morning, when there was no way the feet of water could recede to the afternoon, the baptism took place and the water had receded in hours. He told of meeting a 21-yr. old leaving to go on his mission and reiterated his testimony of being healed of his blindness by Matthew Cowley as a 9-month old child.
He told of his attending Ricks College and marrying. Life was full of spiritual and fulfilling experiences, then when he got a divorce, he was embarrassed, hurt, and became bitter. He left the church to avoid having to face it as he interfaced with members. For twelve years he did not attend church. He would visit with his father, who never pressured him to return to activity, just shared experiences of his life that may and may not have been about his church assignments. At the end of the 12 years, he was home with his father, and at one point, he asked his father for a father's blessing. He described the look, the hug. With tears in his voice, he proclaimed that Father Abraham could not have given any more powerful of a blessing. He decided to return to the church, but first talked with his mother, who said his father had fasted a day every week for that 12 years he was not active. He calculated that his father had fasted for over 696 days on his behalf. By now, I was weeping openly. Then he described the time he walked in a meeting house and sat in the back, noticing a group of men who turned to see him. The man in the center came back to him, welcomed him, and invited him to come sit with the 'good' men. How could anyone not feel the love that man felt from Heavenly Father, through another person, at that moment?
When the speaker sat down, I thought I was through crying, but as we sung the closing hymn, "How Great Thou Art", I looked up at the bishop, not singing, but looking up with watered eyes, glowing with joy. I lost it again. What an example that man was!
Sunday school came and the lady led a discussion that was so well-taught, that I asked Janet if she was a professional teacher. Of course she was! She was/is a psychology professor at the local college.
Yes, the highlight of the day was the blessing given to James by Mike, but I left that ward, thinking, no matter where I go, I find the Church is full of spiritual giants and capable people.
So when we walked into church this Sunday, I already had somewhat of an introduction to the ward. We were there so Mike and I could attend Jame's ordination to be a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. I was dropped off so Mike could park, walked in, and immediately was heartily welcomed as I entered and sat down on a lone bench, I intended to save for Janet's family when they arrived. I looked up to the stand and noticed 3 very old bishopric members and cringed as my eyes met the center member, i.e. the bishop and noticed he could hardly walk and was struggling to arise and walk towards me with a cane. I knew he was coming to greet me, and although it warmed my heart to know it was important to him, I didn't want to be the cause of any pain on my account. Fortunately, Mike entered and the bishop could greet us both.
As the meeting commenced, I could see no speakers on the stand. The bishop hobbled to the podium and announced that his counselors were the speakers. I watched as one stood to speak, but waited to help the bishop sit down before he approached the podium. The bishop had assigned them each to tell of testimony-producing experiences. The first one was rather casual in the way he spoke, but he mentioned that the bishop had prayed and prayed and still didn't know who was supposed to speak this week, then he said he felt his counselors should speak, and he knew what they should speak about.
The 2nd speaker was the opposite. He drew me in by telling his spiritual experiences being raised in a family where his father was in leadership positions in the Church. His family entertained several general authorities in their home--one being Gordon B. Hinkley. Another, Spencer. W. Kimball, was in the circle ordaining this young man to be an elder.
He told of miracles that happened on his mission in New Zealand, one when the eddy they baptized converts in was flooded into the river and as the day approached would not be able to be used, yet they prayed for the flood to go down to allow the baptism. Then, from the early morning, when there was no way the feet of water could recede to the afternoon, the baptism took place and the water had receded in hours. He told of meeting a 21-yr. old leaving to go on his mission and reiterated his testimony of being healed of his blindness by Matthew Cowley as a 9-month old child.
He told of his attending Ricks College and marrying. Life was full of spiritual and fulfilling experiences, then when he got a divorce, he was embarrassed, hurt, and became bitter. He left the church to avoid having to face it as he interfaced with members. For twelve years he did not attend church. He would visit with his father, who never pressured him to return to activity, just shared experiences of his life that may and may not have been about his church assignments. At the end of the 12 years, he was home with his father, and at one point, he asked his father for a father's blessing. He described the look, the hug. With tears in his voice, he proclaimed that Father Abraham could not have given any more powerful of a blessing. He decided to return to the church, but first talked with his mother, who said his father had fasted a day every week for that 12 years he was not active. He calculated that his father had fasted for over 696 days on his behalf. By now, I was weeping openly. Then he described the time he walked in a meeting house and sat in the back, noticing a group of men who turned to see him. The man in the center came back to him, welcomed him, and invited him to come sit with the 'good' men. How could anyone not feel the love that man felt from Heavenly Father, through another person, at that moment?
When the speaker sat down, I thought I was through crying, but as we sung the closing hymn, "How Great Thou Art", I looked up at the bishop, not singing, but looking up with watered eyes, glowing with joy. I lost it again. What an example that man was!
Sunday school came and the lady led a discussion that was so well-taught, that I asked Janet if she was a professional teacher. Of course she was! She was/is a psychology professor at the local college.
Yes, the highlight of the day was the blessing given to James by Mike, but I left that ward, thinking, no matter where I go, I find the Church is full of spiritual giants and capable people.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Modern-day Miracles
Sometimes I think that miracles are common place to me. I think that almost every time I go to the temple, there is something that coincidentally happens to show me the Lord is in the details. There is the time when I grabbed a handful of names from the credenza in the temple to use for initiatory work. Then, when a patron asked to use names, I pulled 6, not 5...like I was supposed to, but 6. Turns out the 6th name was from her family tree and she had been searching to find who had that name, and there it was. She was in tears.
But on the 25th of October, perhaps one of the greatest miracles Michael has performed happened. We had traveled to San Antonio to surprise his mother for her 92nd birthday. Turns out the surprise was on us, because she was never home due to being in and out of doctors, emergency rooms, etc. due to complications from a previous bladder procedure, gone wrong.
Nevertheless, we were able to finally see her the night before her birthday. Carol answered the door: "Susan, it's so good to see you."--to keep the surprise going.
We walked in and she stared at us, not recognizing that we weren't Susan, until Mike went right up to his mom and stared at her. She looked at him quizzically, and stammered, "What are you doing here?"
After we finished up watching the end of a paused, Jeopardy, Louise came in to her chair in the living room, commenting on her pitiful apparel. (She was wearing a plaid top with a wild, 60's floral pattern on her pants.) She complained of being nauseous, but didn't want a throw up bowl. She just wanted to lay down and sleep, but Carol said it was too early and kept waking her up as she dosed off and on.
Carol brought a large file box of her mother's papers into the living room to go through it with all of us there, announcing all the information she found. There were her mother's report cards, Army retirement papers, letters, etc. Every once in awhile, Louise would wake up and interject a comment.
At one point, we heard an audible rush of air whir from her throat. I didn't look up, as I thought it was snoring (which she does on occasion) but both Mike and Carol rushed up to her face. Carol took her head in her hands, trying to wake her up by moving her head and tapping her on her cheeks. Nothing. She yelled at her mother to wake up. Nothing. "Mom. Mom. Not like this. This can't be how. Mom," she pleaded and wailed. She quit the rough handling of moving her head, and softly stroked her mother's cheek. "I love you, mother," she managed with a softer voice, almost in resignation that it was done...her mother had passed.
But, then Carol continued to try, giving her some puffs of air through the mouth. Nothing. "Check her pulse, Mike." she shouted, as she gave her mother another puff of air.
Mike, felt it his mom's wrist, but said he didn't know what he was feeling "...if it is my own pulse or her's?"
It had been about two minutes with all outward signs that she was dead. Carol, then snapped from the devastated, emotional daughter, to the nurse. "Michael, give her a blessing. Karen, call 911!" she commanded.
Michael immediately stood and placed his hands on his mother's head. I wondered if he would anoint. He didn't. He didn't even pronounce her name. He just said, "Mom." and then continued the blessing, as I quickly made the decision to use the land line phone. I heard him talking about her being wrapped in arms of love...and I thought, 'Of course! She is in Heaven.' Then I took the phone, pressed the talk button, but realized I shouldn't be the one to call 911 because I didn't know where we were so I handed Carol the phone.
Mike was continuing the blessing. I hadn't heard much until the words, "You will get well again." I was shocked. Hadn't he said she was with arms of love wrapped around her? What was he saying now? How could he say she was going to be well again if she had been dead about three minutes?
Carol was now talking loudly to the 911 operator. Suddenly, startling us all, Mike's mom opened her eyes and started breathing. Mike took his hands off her head wondering what to do and Carol then told the operator that her mom was now breathing. Mike put his hands back on his mom's head to finish the blessing, but I didn't hear a word because Carol was talking to the operator in just as loud, (if not louder) voice, and I was listening to her to see what would happen with that call.
Mike's blessing finished and so did Carol's phone call. The EMTs were coming anyway to check her out.
At that point. Her mother kept pushing Carol's hands away and telling to get away and not touch her. She complained about being hot. Carol turned on the air conditioner and directed Mike to get a washcloth with water to put on his mom's forehead and back of her neck. All this time, Mike's mother was complaining about being hot and nauseous...and for Carol to quit touching her. (Carol was now taking her blood pressure and pulse.) Carol, then directed Mike to go out front and flag down the EMTs, who came shortly.
The EMTs got information from Carol, and Louise went through a couple bouts of throwing up. After that, it seemed as if she was going to be OK. The EMTs kept suggesting she go to the hospital and Louise kept declining, then she sat up straight and said, "What I need right now is for Mike to give me a blessing."
Carol and I both responded, "He already did."
"No, he didn't, " his mother answered.
I realized, Louise had no memory of what had happened. I looked at her straight in the eyes and said, "You were dead. You were gone for 2-3 minutes. You weren't breathing. You weren't responding. Mike gave you a blessing that you would be well again and then you started breathing."
She looked at me with a question in her eyes. "Huh?"
The EMTs finally convince Louise to go to the hospital.She glanced at those floral pants she was wearing and exclaimed, "I can't go to the hospital dressed like something from Halloween!"
I grinned. I knew she would be all right and that she had her wits about her with that comment.
Yes, she did go to the hospital...and came home that night. Yes, we did celebrate her 92nd birthday the next day, and although she seemed a bit wary and reticent, she was on her way to being her old self again.
I have wondered, as I tried to think what really happened. 'Was she just having a sleep apnea episode and I thought the time was longer than it was?' Then I remember Mike's episodes... how I could shake him and he'd instantly awake. She didn't. She was out. She was gone long enough for me to know she could not go that long without a breath. I know it was a miracle. I am so grateful that we were there. I am so grateful that Mike could, in an instant, be worthy enough have the power in the Priesthood to call upon God to resuscitate his mother. What a blessing the Priesthood is. What a blessing to have a worthy Priesthood holder...and for him to be there when he was needed!
But on the 25th of October, perhaps one of the greatest miracles Michael has performed happened. We had traveled to San Antonio to surprise his mother for her 92nd birthday. Turns out the surprise was on us, because she was never home due to being in and out of doctors, emergency rooms, etc. due to complications from a previous bladder procedure, gone wrong.
Nevertheless, we were able to finally see her the night before her birthday. Carol answered the door: "Susan, it's so good to see you."--to keep the surprise going.
We walked in and she stared at us, not recognizing that we weren't Susan, until Mike went right up to his mom and stared at her. She looked at him quizzically, and stammered, "What are you doing here?"
After we finished up watching the end of a paused, Jeopardy, Louise came in to her chair in the living room, commenting on her pitiful apparel. (She was wearing a plaid top with a wild, 60's floral pattern on her pants.) She complained of being nauseous, but didn't want a throw up bowl. She just wanted to lay down and sleep, but Carol said it was too early and kept waking her up as she dosed off and on.
Carol brought a large file box of her mother's papers into the living room to go through it with all of us there, announcing all the information she found. There were her mother's report cards, Army retirement papers, letters, etc. Every once in awhile, Louise would wake up and interject a comment.
At one point, we heard an audible rush of air whir from her throat. I didn't look up, as I thought it was snoring (which she does on occasion) but both Mike and Carol rushed up to her face. Carol took her head in her hands, trying to wake her up by moving her head and tapping her on her cheeks. Nothing. She yelled at her mother to wake up. Nothing. "Mom. Mom. Not like this. This can't be how. Mom," she pleaded and wailed. She quit the rough handling of moving her head, and softly stroked her mother's cheek. "I love you, mother," she managed with a softer voice, almost in resignation that it was done...her mother had passed.
But, then Carol continued to try, giving her some puffs of air through the mouth. Nothing. "Check her pulse, Mike." she shouted, as she gave her mother another puff of air.
Mike, felt it his mom's wrist, but said he didn't know what he was feeling "...if it is my own pulse or her's?"
It had been about two minutes with all outward signs that she was dead. Carol, then snapped from the devastated, emotional daughter, to the nurse. "Michael, give her a blessing. Karen, call 911!" she commanded.
Michael immediately stood and placed his hands on his mother's head. I wondered if he would anoint. He didn't. He didn't even pronounce her name. He just said, "Mom." and then continued the blessing, as I quickly made the decision to use the land line phone. I heard him talking about her being wrapped in arms of love...and I thought, 'Of course! She is in Heaven.' Then I took the phone, pressed the talk button, but realized I shouldn't be the one to call 911 because I didn't know where we were so I handed Carol the phone.
Mike was continuing the blessing. I hadn't heard much until the words, "You will get well again." I was shocked. Hadn't he said she was with arms of love wrapped around her? What was he saying now? How could he say she was going to be well again if she had been dead about three minutes?
Carol was now talking loudly to the 911 operator. Suddenly, startling us all, Mike's mom opened her eyes and started breathing. Mike took his hands off her head wondering what to do and Carol then told the operator that her mom was now breathing. Mike put his hands back on his mom's head to finish the blessing, but I didn't hear a word because Carol was talking to the operator in just as loud, (if not louder) voice, and I was listening to her to see what would happen with that call.
Mike's blessing finished and so did Carol's phone call. The EMTs were coming anyway to check her out.
At that point. Her mother kept pushing Carol's hands away and telling to get away and not touch her. She complained about being hot. Carol turned on the air conditioner and directed Mike to get a washcloth with water to put on his mom's forehead and back of her neck. All this time, Mike's mother was complaining about being hot and nauseous...and for Carol to quit touching her. (Carol was now taking her blood pressure and pulse.) Carol, then directed Mike to go out front and flag down the EMTs, who came shortly.
The EMTs got information from Carol, and Louise went through a couple bouts of throwing up. After that, it seemed as if she was going to be OK. The EMTs kept suggesting she go to the hospital and Louise kept declining, then she sat up straight and said, "What I need right now is for Mike to give me a blessing."
Carol and I both responded, "He already did."
"No, he didn't, " his mother answered.
I realized, Louise had no memory of what had happened. I looked at her straight in the eyes and said, "You were dead. You were gone for 2-3 minutes. You weren't breathing. You weren't responding. Mike gave you a blessing that you would be well again and then you started breathing."
She looked at me with a question in her eyes. "Huh?"
The EMTs finally convince Louise to go to the hospital.She glanced at those floral pants she was wearing and exclaimed, "I can't go to the hospital dressed like something from Halloween!"
I grinned. I knew she would be all right and that she had her wits about her with that comment.
Yes, she did go to the hospital...and came home that night. Yes, we did celebrate her 92nd birthday the next day, and although she seemed a bit wary and reticent, she was on her way to being her old self again.
I have wondered, as I tried to think what really happened. 'Was she just having a sleep apnea episode and I thought the time was longer than it was?' Then I remember Mike's episodes... how I could shake him and he'd instantly awake. She didn't. She was out. She was gone long enough for me to know she could not go that long without a breath. I know it was a miracle. I am so grateful that we were there. I am so grateful that Mike could, in an instant, be worthy enough have the power in the Priesthood to call upon God to resuscitate his mother. What a blessing the Priesthood is. What a blessing to have a worthy Priesthood holder...and for him to be there when he was needed!
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
My Goals from my 16-yr-old Past
Dear Errolyn, Clara...and all granddaughters who are going to turn 16 soon,
I found my journals from my Young Women's years. There was one for each age to record achievements for our awards. I turned to the back page of my 16-year-old journal and found what I had written under the title: "My hopes and dreams for the FUTURE." I thought you might find it interesting what was important to me back when I was your age.
All my life I had goals that had been planted in my heart and were directed in my patriarchal blessing. Here is what I wrote (minus the 'check', that I have since added.)
"1) I plan to be married in the temple in the beginning...(check)
2) and have a marriage that will last eternally...(hopefully, check)
3) I will have as many children as I can or is economically feasible (check...only change
'economically' to 'emotionally/physically')
4) My husband will be intelligent (more so than me)...(check)
5) and will love and cherish the gospel as much as I do...(check)
6) I will have graduated from BYU...(check)
7) and somehow, some way I will be teaching children...(check)
8) including my own...(check)
I could die happy now, that all my dreams have come true. Life did not make any of them easy, but because they were important to me then, they served as an important pathway for my life.
If you have not received your Patriarchal Blessing by now, prayerfully consider it soon; you will need it through your high school years to keep you grounded and help make decisions regarding your future. Also, write down your hopes and dreams that are truly important. I say truly important, because I wanted a husband who could dance, but it wasn't important in the long run.
If you have goals, you can always get back to where you need to be even when life and life's mistakes lead you off the Covenant Path. If you have goals, you will always return through repentance and desire.
I love you very much. You come from long line of righteous ancestors. You have the faithful, believing, nurturing blood flowing in your veins. You are truly a daughter of your Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. You have their spiritual genetic makeup. "Be loyal to the royal within you."
Love,
Grandma Wideman
I found my journals from my Young Women's years. There was one for each age to record achievements for our awards. I turned to the back page of my 16-year-old journal and found what I had written under the title: "My hopes and dreams for the FUTURE." I thought you might find it interesting what was important to me back when I was your age.
All my life I had goals that had been planted in my heart and were directed in my patriarchal blessing. Here is what I wrote (minus the 'check', that I have since added.)
"1) I plan to be married in the temple in the beginning...(check)
2) and have a marriage that will last eternally...(hopefully, check)
3) I will have as many children as I can or is economically feasible (check...only change
'economically' to 'emotionally/physically')
4) My husband will be intelligent (more so than me)...(check)
5) and will love and cherish the gospel as much as I do...(check)
6) I will have graduated from BYU...(check)
7) and somehow, some way I will be teaching children...(check)
8) including my own...(check)
I could die happy now, that all my dreams have come true. Life did not make any of them easy, but because they were important to me then, they served as an important pathway for my life.
If you have not received your Patriarchal Blessing by now, prayerfully consider it soon; you will need it through your high school years to keep you grounded and help make decisions regarding your future. Also, write down your hopes and dreams that are truly important. I say truly important, because I wanted a husband who could dance, but it wasn't important in the long run.
If you have goals, you can always get back to where you need to be even when life and life's mistakes lead you off the Covenant Path. If you have goals, you will always return through repentance and desire.
I love you very much. You come from long line of righteous ancestors. You have the faithful, believing, nurturing blood flowing in your veins. You are truly a daughter of your Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. You have their spiritual genetic makeup. "Be loyal to the royal within you."
Love,
Grandma Wideman
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Words from Elder Jeffrey R. Parker at our stake conference in a letter to Cameron
Just an aside, I have chosen to write and mail letters to Cameron, so he has them to read constantly--not just on P-day on a computer. Here is what I wrote him about today from my notes from stake conference. It was such a spiritual feast, I thought y'all would also like to know what he said.
12/9/2018
Dear
Cameron,
What a feast
we have had in our stake conference! Our visiting General Authority was newly-called
area authority Jeffrey Parker. He was serving as a mission president in
Australia before his call, so much of what was said refers and is applicable to
missionaries. I will attempt to re-create the messages from his talk on Sat. evening
and Sunday that were important to me—I took lots of notes because Grandpa was
home sick.
Elder Jeffrey Parker—Saturday Adult Stake
Conf. 12-8-18
After
assessing the needs of a region of multiple stakes, differing in socio-economic
status, here were the stake president’s greatest concerns for their members:
“Apathy, casualness, lack of interest in meeting or hearing the prophet,
believing that what the prophet says is like a ‘smorgasbord’ of items that a
member can pick and choose what to do.”
When he was
a mission president, he would ask the missionaries what their greatest weakness
was. He said that quite a few would say, “I’m probably too casual”. He wondered
what they meant by that, but soon found out that ‘casualness’ equated to
disobedience of the Lord’s commandments. He quoted: “Casualness results in ‘casualties’.”
He talked
about the need for URGENCY. President Nelson is on the move. [Just as an aside,
he mentioned that Pres. Nelson, 95, had gone up the steps of the Church
building and was a little out of breath, then a little later his security guard,
45, came in huffing and puffing. He was nearly half of Pres. Nelson’s age and could
not keep up.] The time is hastening towards the 2nd coming. He quoted
Helaman 12: 2…”Yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do
forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea,
and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.”
He cited scriptural
incidences where people had been told to do something and they did it with
haste and urgency. Examples included David when he was told of Goliath and he
RAN to meet his brother’s army, the shepherds heard about the baby Jesus and
they came with HASTE to the manger, when the women told the disciples of the
empty tomb…Simon RAN to see, etc.
It is time
to go. We must do our best in our circumstances, but we must move as quickly as
we can. He cited CS Lewis’s story of The Screwtape Letters, where the 1st
demon says we can stop them by telling them there is no God. Then the 2nd
demon said, no, we can stop them by telling them there is no devil. Then the 3rd
one said no, we’ll tell them that there is a god and is a devil, but there is
no need to hurry.
Elder Parker
said we must hurry. We must have a laser focus on the covenant path. Pres.
Nelson has said more about the 2nd coming than all other prophets
combined. “ Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.” Now is the
time! Pres. Parker said instead of worrying about how our children are being
attacked for hours in school, we need to worry about how we are diligently
preparing them to resist and fortifying them in our homes.
He mentioned
that the missionaries follow the same pattern as President Nelson when he
teaches:
T—Teach correct doctrine
T—Testify of the doctrine
I—Invite, challenge to
participate
P—Promises blessings will result
He gave an
example of the above, by using the talk on using the correct name of the
church.
T—It is a commandment of the
Lord: “Ye shall call the church in my name. ..
T and I--The rest of his talk is testifying and
inviting all to participate.
P--"My dear
brothers and sisters, I promise you that if we will do our best to restore the
correct name of the Lord’s Church, He whose Church this is will pour down His
power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints,17 the likes of which we have never seen. We will have the
knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel
of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the
world for the Second Coming of the Lord."
Another
example from Pres. Nelson is the challenge given to the youth in his fireside
to them, and his challenge to the women in the Sat. evening conference where he
challenged them to read the Book of Mormon before year’s end—highlighting all
references to the Savior, to fast from Social Media for 10 days and write down
their feelings during that time. The youth were to do that and also have a life assessment. Just
as the adults were asked to join in the youth’s challenge, Elder Parker
said that all these challenges to the women were meant for the men to do, too!
It is time
for exact obedience. Faith is a gift from God based on personal righteousness.
The time is not to be ‘casual’, but to ACT, not be acted upon!! And all these
things are urgent.
Elder Jeffrey Parker—Sunday Stake Conf.
session 12-9-18
What is the
difference in the lives of the following true examples????
A.
The Chinese non-members, who had never heard of
Christ and joining in droves a month in only a month’s time from hearing about
Christ, reading the Book of Mormon, getting the discussions, gaining a personal
testimony, joining the Church, then bringing a group of friends to Church to
hear what they have heard…with this same process repeating. (Elder Parker was
the mission president in Australia before he was called as an Area Authority).
B.
An elder returning from serving a mission and
emailing and calling every one of his friends and prospective missionaries
telling them that the Church is not true and they should not serve a mission.
C.
Another elder returning from serving a mission
and bearing testimony of the truthfulness of the Church, being called to leadership
positions and helping other prospective missionaries prepare for a mission.
The
difference is CONVERSION!!! Conversion is NOT checking the boxes off of a path
that your parents or Church tradition sets out for you. Conversion is NOT
attending sacrament meeting weekly. Conversion is NOT partaking the sacrament
weekly or even attending the temple frequently. Conversion is NOT a testimony.
Conversion IS being consistently true to
the gospel of Jesus Christ and having the gospel of Jesus Christ be the controlling
influence in your life.
Never forget our purpose. What is the
missionary’s purpose? (He read a paragraph which basically was to convert and be converted.)
He picked up the home manual, Come Follow Me and opened it to read its purpose…'to
bring about a conversion'.
Having the Holy Ghost with you constantly is the instrument and key
to enduring conversion. Conversion is an ongoing process. For a conversion to
endure, it must be more than a onetime occurrence. In Helaman 4 (read the whole
chapter) we read of the people who had at one time been converted, but lost the
Spirit. We read that they ceased to follow the commandments, so the Spirit
withdrew from them and ceased to reveal to them. An enduring conversion must
have obedience to the commandments and our covenants to have the Holy Spirit to
be with us.
Elder Parker
likened the Parable of the Talents to
our having the Holy Spirit with us. If we have the Spirit and do not
continue to enlarge and continue our experiences to frequent the experiences
where the Holy Spirit will testify, our light will be taken from us. If we
continue to seek to have and experience the Holy Spirit, greater revelation
will be given to us.
Elder Parker
apparently works as an eye surgeon. He compared the microcosm of the tiniest
hole in the retina leading to a detached retina, which leads to eventual
blindness, and finally complete darkness. And yet, that light can return if a
procedure reverses the process. He said the light is like the Holy Spirit and
the smallest of things can eventually lead to the loss of the Spirit if it is
not corrected.
He said that
it is time to set aside the things that don’t matter. Simplify our lives…get
rid of the ‘good’ and ‘better’ and only do the ‘BEST’.
I will write
the rest of the conference in a different letter.
Love, Grandma
Wideman
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Temple Worker Again
I used to be a Dallas Temple Excursion worker once a month for about 2 years when I was a Primary President and Mike was home out of a job...babysitting.
Now I am retired and finally healthy enough to work at the Houston Temple full time. My shift is the mid-day shift on Thursdays from 12 to 6 p.m.
When I was interviewed, Brother Childs did not know of my husband or that he was out of work, but somehow he knew about my health, so that was all he asked about prior to my calling.
When I was set apart as a temple worker these are the things I remember.
1. My husband and I would know that path that we should go.
2. My health would improve...and my memory and mental capacity would expand.
3. There would be many times the veil would be very thin, and especially when I read the scriptures, my mind would be enlightened to understand things I have never understood.
4. I would know the direction my life should take, what to do with my time.
5. Whenever I go to and leave the temple, angels will attend me.
If I remember more, I'll add it.
Now I am retired and finally healthy enough to work at the Houston Temple full time. My shift is the mid-day shift on Thursdays from 12 to 6 p.m.
When I was interviewed, Brother Childs did not know of my husband or that he was out of work, but somehow he knew about my health, so that was all he asked about prior to my calling.
When I was set apart as a temple worker these are the things I remember.
1. My husband and I would know that path that we should go.
2. My health would improve...and my memory and mental capacity would expand.
3. There would be many times the veil would be very thin, and especially when I read the scriptures, my mind would be enlightened to understand things I have never understood.
4. I would know the direction my life should take, what to do with my time.
5. Whenever I go to and leave the temple, angels will attend me.
If I remember more, I'll add it.
Sunday, September 9, 2018
The 'Aha' Moment
I can distinctly remember when I 'really' became a teacher. It was when I was teaching the lesson I was supposed to teach and in explaining something, I found out they didn't know something else. I put aside what was supposed to be taught and took a good 10 minutes to explain what they didn't know. I soon found out that if I answered their questions they WANTED to know WHILE I was teaching what they were SUPPOSED to know, that more and more questions came and they became more engaged in their learning.
Similarly, I distinctly remember when I truly understood 'ministering'. At first, I was a bit taken aback because I really had been 'ministering' to those sisters already...I thought. It felt almost like a step backwards for me to not have to visit them monthly, but I soon looked for and prayed to know their needs. Well, in doing so, I was given my answers by observing other sisters in similar situations. Then it hit me. Why am I LIMITING my ministering to only those I've been assigned, when I can see the same need in other sisters? Eventually, my 'ministering' woke up other sisters to do what I was doing and a true unity began in our ward. We were reaching out to everyone the spirit let us know needed our help.
Similarly, when I was at Weight Watchers, I saw a young mother I had known from my former ward when she was a Young Women. She had a child that was NOT happy having to sit and be quiet at Weight Watchers. So. I saw a need...and I went to the store and filled a huge purse with toys. Toys that would rival any grandmother's purse. Toys that were ages 9 mos. to 3 years. The next week I brought it and her daughter was silent as she kept busy with my toys.
Long story, short, I bring it to my ward now. It was like a pre-nursery in Sunday School and Relief Society today. Four babies all wanting my toys. When I got home, one mother called to know where she could buy some particular toys I had. Uh...the one she wanted most was homemade, so I told her she could have the extra one I made.
I guess both examples are my epiphany-moments that we need to perform outside of the curriculum to meet the needs of students...just as the spirit will prompt us to minister to others, not necessarily confined to our assignments. Once we get past the set boundaries and truly meet needs, then we are as Christ would have us be.
Similarly, I distinctly remember when I truly understood 'ministering'. At first, I was a bit taken aback because I really had been 'ministering' to those sisters already...I thought. It felt almost like a step backwards for me to not have to visit them monthly, but I soon looked for and prayed to know their needs. Well, in doing so, I was given my answers by observing other sisters in similar situations. Then it hit me. Why am I LIMITING my ministering to only those I've been assigned, when I can see the same need in other sisters? Eventually, my 'ministering' woke up other sisters to do what I was doing and a true unity began in our ward. We were reaching out to everyone the spirit let us know needed our help.
Similarly, when I was at Weight Watchers, I saw a young mother I had known from my former ward when she was a Young Women. She had a child that was NOT happy having to sit and be quiet at Weight Watchers. So. I saw a need...and I went to the store and filled a huge purse with toys. Toys that would rival any grandmother's purse. Toys that were ages 9 mos. to 3 years. The next week I brought it and her daughter was silent as she kept busy with my toys.
Long story, short, I bring it to my ward now. It was like a pre-nursery in Sunday School and Relief Society today. Four babies all wanting my toys. When I got home, one mother called to know where she could buy some particular toys I had. Uh...the one she wanted most was homemade, so I told her she could have the extra one I made.
I guess both examples are my epiphany-moments that we need to perform outside of the curriculum to meet the needs of students...just as the spirit will prompt us to minister to others, not necessarily confined to our assignments. Once we get past the set boundaries and truly meet needs, then we are as Christ would have us be.
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