Sick Again

 I'm sick again and not happy about it.  When we went to St George for the two days and met up with Trisha and Buck for lunch and attend the St George Parade of homes, Trisha has been not feeling well and had a cold with congestion.  I was unsure about meeting up when she told me she wasn't feeling well.  She said she was feeling better the day we met up.  Well now I have the cold coming on.  I could tell I was not feeling well all- day Thursday and by evening I felt body aches coming on and congested.  Today I have a full fledge cold, sneezing and not feeling well, I have been in bed most of the day.  I have worked on the YSA history for 2024 and have been able to get all caught up now I need to learn how to load online the church history site.  I'm going to be set apart this Sunday and President Symes will give me access to the online history account.  It has given me something to work on while I'm not feeling well.  Darn it so mad I'm sick again!

YSA Snowmobiling Activity Feb 21st, 2024

We had an such awesome activity.  Unforgettable memories for us all!   Brother Smoot arranged for us to go to Beaver Creek lodge up Logan canyon - which he owns - for us to snowmobile for the evening.  It was a lovely night just after the new fallen snow.  The full moon had a yellow glow and shone through to gives us some night light. We had 20, each driving their own snowmobile.  We had groomed trails which was much smoother to drive on. We drove 9 miles up the mountain trail and then cut off in deeper snow winding our way up to see the plane crash site that happened in 1963 where 37 servicemen crashed and died coming home from the Korean War.  So sad they were so close to home and hit bad weather bringing their plane down instantly killing them all- it happened in February and a recuse team was not able to get to site until June that year.  It is a reverent site to visit and honor those servicemen who died.  Victor read the memorial monument to the group after Corey dug the deep snow away- we all made our return drive safely back to the lodge.  It was a life time experience for many who had never had a nighttime snowmobile ride or even been on a snowmobile.    We had Emily and Karen Barlow, Fredia and Danelia from Brazil - Victor invited them -they are non -members who joined us and their first time out on snowmobiles- we also had Cody Pate, Corey Stock who is an advance snowmobiler, Kyle Cazier, Ellie Puzey, and Lexi Reynolds- her last week with us, she starts her mission training Feb 26th.  We also had Misha who has joined us the last two activities, Brandon and his parent’s brother and sister Droesbeke, Brother Carlson our stake high councilman- who also is experienced, along with brother and sister Rasmussen. Brother Smoot, two of his snowmobiling guides Lindsey and Parker-and President and Sister Symes.  We gathered after our ride to cook hamburgers and dogs and eat a late dinner!  It was an overall amazing experience for all. 

Brandon Droesbeke our downsyndrome young man attending YSA,

 Corey Stock,Cody Pate, Misha- yeah Cody came have not seen him since the end of January, getting to come to the actvities is encouraging.  Misha is a new YSA young man to start attedning her has came the last two activites and to church on sunday.  

Victor who has not been active came and brought to girls he works with at Mikes they are from Brail, Fredria, and Danellia- non members

The gang getting ready to go

President Symes and Corey Stock

Brother and Sister Rasmussen

Brother and Sister Droesbeck

 

Quick Trip

We made a quick trip to Ivan’s arriving Sunday evening late at 11:45 pm and driving back to the lake arriving Wednesday afternoon at 4pm - we wanted to be back in time for our YSA activity that evening- Monday we were able to spend time with the Thomas family at their lovely home in Ivan’s.  We enjoyed going to the St George Parade of homes- we saw some wow homes over the top.  One had the most amazing backyard I have never seen- like a pool resort with the most darling casita.  It was all wow- we saw another one just down the street from the first home- it was wow too - they both were 12,000 square feet and $7,000,000 plus- crazy money for these home - but fun to see.  We saw another one out by Natasha’s home. it was really pretty too- after our parade viewing, we stopped by one of her friends staying in Stone Cliff- in another amazing home her aunt and uncle brought.  It has a full-on bowling alley in the basement.  The kids all had fun bowling.  I enjoyed bowling with them. I haven’t bowled for years- it was lots of fun. We had a full day- they had to pack up and head back to Sandy the kids have school and Natasha had to work Tuesday.  I told her I would clean up just go.  I spent the evening tidying things up and Tuesday morning. The weather was very nice on Monday. Felt so nice and warm- 60 degrees and sunny- Tuesday it was raining lightly off and on- We met Trisha and Buck for lunch- we haven’t seen them since Christmas and needed to smooth things out with them. Both sides had hurt feelings.  We said we were sorry for leaving suddenly at the lake and should have left a note. I was just so upset how Christmas Day ended for us- we told them we understood they are just trying to do the best they can with their family and that they are always welcome at the lake.  That is why we built it was for the family to gathering. They both were closed off at first but accepted our apologies and could see the body language walls come down.  It was my fault I shouldn’t have gotten upset Christmas day with the family not gathering - it is hard to let go- we are entering a new stage in our lives with the grandkids growing up and starting to live their own lives and Buck and Trisha moving to St George.  We do have the lake house to gather- after our lunch visit and trying to smooth things over, we went to three parade homes in Stone Cliff and two at a new project called Red Dessert- it is all way to expensive.  Millions of $ - don’t know how anyone can afford these luxury homes- still fun to see - back to reality- it does put me in the decorating mood to update things here at the lake and our Draper home. I do enjoy having a decorating project to work on. Trisha and Buck are leaving this Friday to go to Hawaii for a week. Hope to get back down for some warmer weather soon- we woke up Wednesday morning to rain.  It was raining hard all morning.  We packed up to head back north so we could be there for our YSA snowmobile activity.  it took us 6 and half hours driving back- it is tiring driving straight thru.  We had just enough time to unpack and dress in our snow clothing. We were snowed in!! They got a huge snow storm earlier in the day and had cleared up by the time we arrived.  We had over a foot and half on the driveway- Craig had to snow blow our drive way so we could get in and out. It is a winter wonderland at the lake.  We have received so much snow up north this year over 180% for the month of February.  

We Arrived To Ivan’s

Craig and I packed up after church and headed south- ready for a break from the snowy weather- it has snowed the past five days- we drove straight thru- it took us 7 hours arriving at 10:45pm-  we are going with Natasha and Bridger to the St George Parade of homes today for a few hours.  They are heading back to Sandy later today.  We are going to stay for a few days. 

A Very Snowy Sabbath Day

February 18th, 2023 Sabbath Day - It’s Presidents’ Day weekend.  We expected more visitors to attend our Sacrament meeting.  We had 8 visitors from the University of Utah attend.  It has been snowing all morning long and the roads are not good, it most likely kept some from attending- Our faithful YSA brethren attending were Kyle Cazier, Corey Stock, Jared Brenkman, Travis and Braydon Gifford and Brandon Droesbeck, we had no sisters attend this week- total attending sacrament this week is – 26.  Brother and Sister Droesbeck are a great support in bringing Brandon their handicap son to participate in the branch weekly.  Sister Droesbeck plays the piano for our hymns and Sister Linda Rasmussen is our chorister. President Symes conducted our meeting- 1st Counselor Mark Smoot and 2nd Counselor Derek Rasmussen sat on the stand along with our Assigned Stake High Councilman brother Mike Carlsen visiting with us today.  Sister Symes was sustained as the branch History specialist.  We had our three assigned missionaries to the Garden City area speak today.  They each testified the Book of Mormon is the keystone of their faith.  The book of Mormon is a gift and blessing in each of their lives.  We felt the Holy Spirit bear witness as they shared the gospel message of truth in each of their talks.  Having the Missionaries attend weekly adds so much to our little branch.  Sister Symes led our Come Follow Me lesson this week. Reviewing chapters in 2Nephi 3-5, We had a great discussion.  Sister Symes shared how this scripture prophesied has been fulfilled in our day - 2 Nephi 3: 12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.  Also prophesied in the book of Ezekiel.- 37: 15 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, 16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. We are so blessed in our time to have the Book of Mormon and the Bible become one in scripture for us to study. 18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?

19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.  Sister Symes shared a story from her journal in the Year 2000 how literally the Stick of Judah -the Bible and the Stick of Joseph- the Book of Mormon have become one- for many years the church worked to combine the two books in their cross references and printed for the first time the combine scriptures- Truely prophecy being fulfilled in our time!! 

                                               Elder Shelton, Elder Biemfor, and Elder Hergit

2023 YSA Branch History

 After our stake training session last night- I was motivated to get started.  I came home and began working on compiling a history since August 27th, 2023 when Criag was sustained as President of the Bear Lake Valley YSA branch.  I was up until about 1:30 am and had to make myself quit.  I woke early and have been at it all day today.  It does take time to record and add pictures to our history.   It has been fun to review and reflect upon the past 6 months that we have been serving.  We have made good progress.  At times it feels we are not accomplishing much and have to remind ourselves we are making a difference even though our flock is small.  I still have some date and callings to add but almost done.  Now it will be time to start working on the year 2024.  This year all the entries will be made online.  No more paper histories.  The challenge is learning how to records on the church online history program. President Symes has called me to be the Branch Historian.  It is right up my alley as I love to blog and keep my personal history.    I’m teaching our Come Follow Me lesson tomorrow too, so I have got to quit recording and start preparing for our lesson.  We are also packing up and heading to St George after church.  I need to tidy up the kitchen and pack for our three-day trip.  We are coming back in time for our YSA snowmobiling activity.  While in St George I’m going to the St George Home Parade with Trisha and Natasha.  It is going to be in the 60's which will feel so nice.  It has been really cold here at the lake the past two days we have had snow.  It will feel nice to have some warmer weather for a few days. 

 

YSA History

Craig and I attended a Stake training meeting tonight to learn how to record the history of our Bear Lake YSA branch online- I have been asked to record a history of the Branch from August 20th 2023 to the end of the Year-  I have kept serval enteries in my Blog so I should be able to go back thru them and highlight what has transpired in the Branch.  

Friday - It’s Snowing Again - Shannon 44th Birthday

I woke up to a billowing snow storm. It is snowing hard and fast and the inches are climbing- we woke up to it snowing yesterday morning too.  Today the snow storm is heavier.  Our news report for the month of February we are at 180% for our snowfall record and this storm will add greatly.  It is pretty watching it cover the ground.  We are snuggled warm in our lake home.  We dove back to the lake Wednesday afternoon to host our YSA Valentine dinner that evening.  The roads were clear but since then lots of snow is on the roads.  I don’t want to be out driving on them.  Today is our Shannon’s 44th birthday.  I wanted to spend time with her on her birthday but the weather is too bad to be going anywhere.  I called her late last night to visit with her. She has not felt well the past few weeks with a terrible headache.  Bless her heart she struggles with terrible migraines and her headache medicine is not helping much.  She said that she has noticed that she could hear this really high pitch noise nonstop and ringing in her ears.  The past few days she has not heard it and now she is feeling better.  Trying to figure out what is going on?  She has found online people struggling with the same thing and believe it is the 5G frequency- which very well could be -she doesn’t live far from a 5G tower.  She is trying to tune into what is causing these terrible headaches.  The high pitch sound seems to be what is causing them to increase and intensity- Pray for her to be strengthen and comfort in her health challenges.  She has had so many struggles over the years with her health and migraines have been a huge part and debilitating.  I can’t believe she is 44 years old today.  My daughters are getting older and so am I.  The years go by all too fast.  I told her we would be coming down Sunday afternoon after church- so maybe we could meet up for dinner.  I have a gift for her.  She was asking me what time of day she was born- I will have to find her birth record.  We have a stake meeting to attend tonight about how to record our history for the branch - they are changing for all records to be online – 

Shannon Birth Certificate she was born at 5:07 pm in the afternoon, Shannon had been a blessing in our lives, love her with all my heart.

Closing Remarks Oct 2018

Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints

By President Russell M. Nelson

I leave my love and blessing upon you, that you may feast upon the word of the Lord and apply His teachings in your personal lives.

His closing advice and counsel- 

My dear brothers and sisters, the assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety. Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I plead with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time. Invest time in your future and in that of your family. If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord—to be in His holy house—then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples.-  this is a powerful promise - miracles can come in our lives as we strive to serve in the temple - I believe with all my heart - ❤️ 

At this conference it was announced the Home center learning - two years before 2020 when we would actually not able to attend church- due to shut down - something I  did not comprehend at the time - the lord was preparing us as a church for this time in the short future to come -   “ The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.” 

Also counseled - “ During this conference we have strengthened our resolve to execute the essential effort to honor the Lord Jesus Christ every time we refer to His Church. I promise you that our rigorous attention to use the correct name of the Savior’s Church and its members will lead to increased faith and access to greater spiritual power for members of His Church.

His closing blessing - I bless you with increased faith in Him and in His holy work, with faith and patience to endure your personal challenges in life. I bless you to become exemplary Latter-day Saints. I so bless you and bear my testimony that God lives! Jesus is the Christ! This is His Church. We are His people, in the name of Jesus Christ,

Church of Jesus Christ

The Correct Name of the Church

By President Russell M. Nelson - he spoke in the October 2018 confernce -announcing 

Jesus Christ directed us to call the Church by His name because it is His Church, filled with His power. The talk was very powerful to me when I heard it, baring testimony to me his Chruch is truely on the earth.  Our mission as a church to announce to the world his church has been restored to the earth and not disguised as the Mormon  or LDS church- “ In the early days of the restored Church, terms such as Mormon Church and Mormons were often used as epithets—as cruel terms, abusive terms—designed to obliterate God’s hand in restoring the Church of Jesus Christ in these latter day” close quote - the Chrurch logo was change from Angel with the sounding trumpet to the picture of Jesus Christ with extending hands to all -

Review President Nelson’s Confernce talks - Declaration of RS 1999

Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel

By President Russell M. Nelson- Oct 2018 

I’m extending a prophetic plea to you, the women of the Church, to shape the future by helping to gather scattered Israel. 

I have felt impressed to review President Nelson’s conference talks since he was sustain our Prophet in April confernece 2018.  I’m rereading them and striving to follow his counsel- speaking to the sisters in October session 2018 - he counseled to read and study the declaration from the relief Society announced in 1999-  I took the time to read this morning - I guess I missed this counsel then - 

General Relief Society Meeting-25 September 1999-   We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.

We as a presidency rejoice in this declaration, approved and endorsed by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, which clearly sets forth principles of attitude and action that will lead each of us back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. As we individually apply these teachings, we will, as Father Lehi hoped, reach the tree of life. In 1 Nephi 8:12 [1 Ne. 8:12] we read, “And as I partook of the fruit … it filled my soul with … joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.”

We testify that each of us has a vital role, even a sacred mission to perform as a daughter in Zion. It is a new day, the dawning of a new era. It is our time, and it is our destiny to rejoice as we fill the earth with greater kindness and gentleness, greater love and compassion, greater sympathy and empathy than has ever been known before. It is time to give ourselves to the Master and allow Him to lead us into fruitful fields where we can enrich a world filled with darkness and misery. Each of us, no matter who we are, no matter where we serve, must arise and make the most of each opportunity that comes. We must follow the counsel given by the Lord and His servants and make our homes houses of prayer and havens of security and safety. We can and must deepen our faith by increasing our obedience and sacrifice. In this individual process a miracle will take place. The Relief Society will begin to stretch and reach out to the millions in need. It will continue to become an organization that brings relief and rejoicing. This will happen one sister at a time. We will unite in our righteousness and truly partake of the fruit of the tree of life together. The fruits of our labors can heal the world, and, sisters, in the process they can heal us too!

YSA Valentine Party/ Feb 14th Valentines' Day

                         President and Sister Symes                     Fun Valentine decorations

Our fun Valentine decoration and dinner serving table

Linda Rasmussen

                                                                   Amber Droesbeke

                                                  Gifford Brother's Travis and Brayden

                                                            Our Elder Missionaries

                                                                   Brandon  Snow Droesbeke

                                                             Emily and Karen Barlow

We drove back to the lake Wednesday afternoon arriving at 5pm- just in time to decorate and host our YSA Valentine spaghetti dinner at 7 PM.  It was a rush for me to get things ready in time.  I used ballon’s that I saved from the little Miss Galentine event last Saturday that they were getting rid of after hosting their event.  I told them they would work great for our upcoming party.  I loaded up my car with ballon’s and hauled them to the Lake and stored them in my car until our event 5 days later.  It was so nice to have them all blown up ahead of time.  It added to our party decorations.  We had a great turn out for those who were in the Valley.  We have a lot more young men than sisters.  We had Emily and her sister Karen Barlow who are non- members coming to our activities.  They are a break off from a polygamous group in southern Utah.  So, this is a huge change for them.  So glad they attended. We had one other young sister from Paris Idaho that also came Rebecca Brekman.  She has joined us for our weekly activities the past two months. She has a calling in her home ward so she attends there on Sundays.  We are trying to get our numbers up. Lots of love and reaching out to those that live here fulltime during the winter months- We did have 12 young men attend- it was a great group including three of the elder missionaries- fun to get to know them.  Sister Linda made the spaghetti sauce. It was yummy.  We cooked the noodles and made a salad just in time at the church kitchen.  They all enjoyed their yummy dinner and we had fun playing three groups of the game Farkle- I made heart sugar cookies at our Draper home that morning.  They were all gone.  It was fun to put forth the effort to host the event- they wouldn’t have anywhere to go and most aren’t dating anyone right now - so it was fun to gather those that could attend.    Corey Stock complimented we did a great job hosting and appreciated it very much.  He is Craig’s branch executive secretary- he is a very special young man.

  

Temporal Preparation/Food Storage

After listening to several podcast about the importance of our time - I have come to understand even more I need to prepare spiritually and temporary. Food shortages are alarming throughout the world. The price of our food has gone up almost half on many things in the past year it cost more to purchase the basic things and a hardship for many families living on a fixed income from pay check to pay check.  We are so blessed so have savings and our needs are taken care of. With food storages coming to our own County, I can see we need to be self -reliant for our own needs and share with those in need. It is somewhat alarming to me and not sure how to really prepare for a year or two in supplies.  We have been commanded to be self -reliant and not to depend on the government or the church if we have the means.  We have had 7 years to prepare and now the next 7 according to many prophecies the next seven years is going to be great hardship for many people.  In 2020 when our society was shut down for several months it was a wake- up call for Craig and I.  We went to the grocery store in Evanston, Wyoming and the shelves were empty.  I had never seen it like this before with the store shelves so empty, people buying supplies in a panic.   Being empty nesters, we eat out a lot, and our cupboards were bare. That experience was a wakeup call.  I have been trying since then to buy extra groceries a little at a time. I have more supplies on hand for our needs in case there is another shut down and even longer.  I realize the cost of food going up. I should’ve bought more much sooner.  I know that we are not as prepared as we should be. Still, I need to make a better plan to work on it more effectively in the next few months.  I consecrated my time today to put forth the effort to start adding to our temporal supplies.  I physically can only do so much each day, and I wore myself out today.  I noticed that we don’t go through our food as quickly, so I am writing the expiration dates on the items, so I can be better at rotating.  I need to make a supplies list of what we would need for a year and start adding to it. It does take time and effort to keep up with it. I need to buy things that have a longer shelf life. I want to take the time to see what the church has to say about their temporal self -reliance website today and prepare my storage list. D& C 109: 8 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; 9 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord, that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High - I really like in knowing as I pray to Heavenly Father in my coming and goings he will bless me as I pray for guidance and give him thanks for my many blessings -  I need to be better in daily prayer, thanking my Heavenly Father.  Online website - In the scriptures, we’ve been taught to organize ourselves and “prepare every needful thing” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:8). You can prepare for hard times by storing emergency foods and other essentials to help you get through unexpected challenging times.  What Is the Importance of Food Storage?  Members of the Church are encouraged to prepare for emergencies by having a basic supply of food, water, and other necessities. We never know when a natural disaster, economic crisis, or other emergency may come our way. Through storing emergency foods and other essentials with faith in Jesus Christ, we can stay resilient in the face of adversity.  - Food supply (short-term and long-term)- Water supply This is a great review as I have become laxed in our Sr. years - What Food Should I Store? For short-term food storage, store foods that are a part of your normal diet. Buy foods from different food groups to ensure proper nutrition and rotate these items regularly to avoid spoilage.  I need to make a monthly menu and then buy all the supplies for this plan - and then it will give me and idea what to buy for a 6 month plan-  take time this week to review my recipes- For long-term food storage, focus on foods such as wheat, rice, pasta, oats, dry beans, potato flakes, and other survival foods that can last 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. For more information on long-term food storage, please refer to our long-term food storage guide.  I also need to take the time to go to the church storage facility to buy long term storages items-Make a list of what I need - and review what we have already stored- 

Places of Refuge

 We drove to our Draper home late last night arriving about 12:20am.  I had a prayer in my heart saying help me lord to prepare me and my family for the up- coming tribulations that are coming upon our country and people- help me to know how to physically and spirituality prepare - I know I need to do more physically -huge shortages are coming I need to store more for my family and those around us. We have the means so I need to do more- it is just knowing what and how- I need some directions- in emergency preparation- listening to this podcast this morning - Spiritual Protection through Priesthood Power | Ft. Matt Jeppson - places of safety from the storms that wait us. High- lighted is personal sanctification - spend as much time as we can in the temple- the opening talked about how the Book of Mormon is a shadow and type of things that are to happen in our time giving us direction to follow thru the counsel of our modern Prophet Russell M Nelson- the lord will lead us to places of safety from the destruction of the world around us as we strive to be righteous- learn to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  The Book of Mormon opens with Lehi and his family being led out of Jerusalem, before the pending judgement befalls because of their evil ways and disobedience to Gods Laws - he allows other nations to over throw them in 600 bc- Nephi and his family are led on a trek of safety to a new land - the promise land of American continents. The Lord has promised that we will be also led to places of safety in these troubled times.  He discussed about the 2017 eclipse as a sign in Heaven as a time to prepare for the pending judgements to come upon this Nation as it is ripened in iniquity.  The up- coming total solar eclipse on April 8th 2024 this year is another sign in the heavens 7 years later that the preparation time is over and that the time of Wo will begin for us in the United States.  The last time of the Gentile to be called to repentance - to turn to God as these pending woes will be poured out upon the wicked- our places of safety are the Stakes of Zion- where we live- attending the temples and standing in holy places- sharing the gospel message, building Zion is our only hope to survive the overflowing scourge that are upon us as a nation- that is collapsing before our very eyes.   This next solar event marks the course before us.  There will begin a cleansing of the land of wickedness for those living Telestial law. the Terrestrial and Celestial law will be allowed to remain on earth.   We have to rely on the promptings of the Holy Spirit to direct our path of safety as Nephi and his family had to learn in their journey to the promise land. It will not be easy! We will be faced with surmountable challenges- pray for the miracles in our own lives for the directions needed- The Lord is preparing a people to build the New Jerusalem here on the American continent- many will be called to build the new holy city.  An address by President Ezra Taft Benson spoke to a college congregation at BYU in 1979 saying they are the generation foretold a marked generation to usher in the millennium.  All eyes in Heaven are on us as we prepare the world around us by our example and conviction to survive the terrible calamities that are about to be declare- I loved gaining new insights and building my resolve to stand in Holy Place - come unto my Savior for the strength that is needed-  I don’t want to be deceived and pray for the wisdom needed in my path-  Craig and I have the responsibility to strengthen the YSA in the their conviction to the gospel of Jesus Christ the rising generations-  pray for the direction we need to serve in the vineyard of the Lord-  pray for the inspiration and direction we need in our own daily lives-  living the law of consecration- giving of our time and talents in building the Kingdom of God on the earth-  I have so enjoyed this podcast and that I have been guided to listen to.  I want to share this new knowledge with my dear hubby- he has work related things he is working on the next few days- we have to drive back to the lake Tuesday night to prepare for our YSA Valentine activity- pray for the direction I need to make it a fun and uplifting time to gather.  I have errands today in preparation and would really like to attend the temple tomorrow before we head back to the lake- 

Our Sabbath Day -Preparing For Second Coming

We had a very nice Sabbath day with our YSA branch today.  We had a large group of YSA visitors attendimg today about 40- Lexie our Relief society YSA president was released today - she starts serving her mission on Feb. 26th.  Elie Puzey her 1st counselor spoke in sacrament today and she gave a great talk- Brayden Gifford also spoke and did great.  He told us that he gets really nervous and his body start to shake - like Thumper the rabbit thumping and tapping his foot.  Well sure enough I could see his chest shaking while speaking.  He gave a great message - bless him for giving his talk even when it was really scary for him.  We had a good come follow me lesson and enjoyed eating donuts and visiting with one another after our lesson- we took a picture with Lexie today.  I wasn’t able to get one with her at the temple.  She is such a sweet girl- she will have lots to learn in serving her mission in Houston Texas.  

I put our dinner in the oven to cook while we were at church.  It was nice to come home to a hot meal ready to eat.  Craig watched the annual supper bowel football game.  I rested and listened to several podcast about the signs of the second coming and that we are living in this exciting time in history.  I learned that the past 7 years has been a time to prepare - 2024 is a hinge point going forward that the great divide is coming and the wrath of God pouring out on the evil and disobedient.  Looking forward the total solar eclipse that is coming on April 8th this year 2024 as it crosses the United States marking an X on the center point as prophesied as the New Jerusalem in Jackson County Missouri.  The next 7 years is going to be a time of sorrow in our county as the antichrist releases his power upon us - also a natural cleansing of the wicked from the land because of disobedience to Gods laws.  The year will be a time to watch for the signs and to prepare spiritually the best we can.  Listening to their messages helps me to recognize that the signs are upon us.  I do believe in my Savior- pray for the insight I need to know how to prepare- pray I may have the holy spirits guidance before-hand according to my faith to be guided by my Heavenly Father- 

 

 

Tasha- Vacation To Tulum

Natasha and Bridger left for Tulum Cancun Friday morning -  she posted these beautiful pictures of them having a great time. I enjoyed spending time there as a family in 2006 - It is beautiful.  Love seeing the Mayan ruins that are surrounded in the area of the seashore.

 

Cole & Chase

Cute post from Sharlena - First day of nursing school for these two. When my kids sent me this picture it completely made my day! And I couldn’t help looking back through pictures of Cole’s first days as a kid. Good luck you two! You got this!

Galentine Event /Hosted by Ivy City

We had a great time at the annual Galentine event hosted by Ivy City this year.  Natasha was out of town so I took Anni, Cora and Ashtyn.  We drove out to get Ashtyn at her home.  Shannon wasn’t feeling well enough to go.  The girls had a great time.  I was glad I went.  We drove down yesterday morning so it was a 24 hour turn around trip from the lake and back.  They had a great time jumping in the princess castle- coloring, painting, eating waffles and strawberries, and watching the ballon man make them each a 🎈 balloon.  They had lots of balloons left over so I gathered them up to take to the lake for our YSA Valentine activity this coming Wednesday on Valentine’s Day.  It will be fun to decorate with.  We have a car full of balloons.  We are heading back to the lake to be at church tomorrow.  Craig has started feeling better- a 100 % since last Sunday when he was in so much pain.  I wore a fun Ivy City dress to the event and I’m wearing it to church tomorrow.  This a fun picture of Rebecca Dunn and I wearing matching Ivy City Dresses.  We were laughing that we found our dresses in our daughters's closet to wear to the event.  

                                                       Face Painting Ani and her lady bug 

                                                               Ashtyn as a Kitty Cat

, 

                                                 Cute picture Ashtyn and Cora Rose and Grammy

They loved their heart balloons and took the large balloon girl home.

                                                            Cora, Ani, and Ashtyn

                                                         Loved visiting the Princesses

                                                          Fun Coloring Ashtyn and Anni

                                                               Cora Rose Coloring

                                                        Ashtyn jumping in the Castle

                                 Our Darling Cora and Ani so cute in their Ivy City Dresses

Wednesday Chiro Appt

We woke up early to get Craig to a 9am Chiropractor appointment-  He is still in alot of pain.  I can tell it has eased a little.  He is on day two of his prednisone treatment.  We woke up to several inches of wet heavy snow.  After the Chiro  appt- we stopped by discount tire to get two new tires on the Lexus- with all this winter weather we needed better tires.  Guess we are heading back to the lake for our YSA activity this week.  

Craig’s Hurting / Easter Island

The first of the month Bridger took his boys Lincoln and Winn to visit Easter Island - this is where he served his mission and has such fond memories.  He wanted to share with his boys 20 years later.  A trip of a lifetime for them.  They were gone two weeks and have lots of fun stories to tell.

Well things went from bad to worse for Craig.  He enjoyed his massage Friday afternoon.  But still in pain. Come Saturday morning the pain was worse.  He drove himself to the insta care in Logan.  They did x-rays and he didn’t have any broken ribs and his lungs looked good- they sent him home.  His pain was off the chart by the time he made the hour drive back to the lake.  I was wondering what was taking him so long. I thought he went to the insta care at Bear Lake and didn’t realize he drove all the way to Logan- By 8pm he was in so much pain - I told him I was taking him to the ER and have them look closer something was not right to cause so much pain in his back and ribs.  We left and made the drive back to Logan again.  The weather was terrible halfway thru the canyon it had turned to snow- I was barely able to see the road especially at night driving. The roads were very slick.  We arrived safely!  It was a sigh of relief driving in the snow storm.  They x-rayed him again and did a CT scan and still didn’t see anything alarming.  They sent us home with a muscle relaxer prescription- no pain medicine.  They did give him some before we left the hospital which helped some for the drive home.  I was not driving back to the lake up the canyon with such bad snowy roads. I drove south to our Draper home.  It was a rough night and all- day Sunday.  He has been in so much pain he can hardly move without yelling from the pain.  We were not going to make it to our church meetings.  I called a friend in our subdivision to come give him a blessing.   He brought Brother Jones we knew from our Draper Temple shift- she wife served as our coordinator.  So nice to visit with them.  Corey Stocks stopped by from his snowmobiling weekend on his way back to the lake.  He arrived just in time to help administer in the priesthood blessing given by the three of them.  We loaded him up with some anti-inflammatory and put him in his recliner for the rest of the day.  His pain subsided a small amount.  Cory stayed and visit for a awhile and helped Craig complete some presidency reports.  Corey is such an awesome young man of 21 years old.  Very independent.  He is serving us the branch executive secretary.  He is one of our active YSA members and very dependable. 

Craig In Pain / Karlee Sick

Craig’s back started hurting in the upper middle and toward the right side really bad on our drive back from Rexburg last night.  He has been in pain all day.  I was able to make an appointment with Niki Green here at the lake for a massage.   She was able to fit him in at 2pm- hoping it gives him some relief- she told me when I picked him up, she thinks he has a rib out of place-which is highly likely from the sledding impact he had last week on our YSA activity- his neck was killing him in pain the previous week and now this past week his ribs have been hurting.  He played pickleball on Tuesday and said he hurt trying to return the balls on his backhand which stretches his right side.  He said he was going to have to lay off playing until his ribs feel better. So now his back is hurting and hard to breath which are symptoms that he does have a rib is out of place.  Try to get him through the weekend and get him into Craig Campbell on Monday our chiropractor.  He for sure needs an adjustment.  Never a dull moment with my hubby dear- he keeps hurting himself. We are no spring chickens- he gets hurt much easier and it takes longer to heal and we get sick when around our grandkids and then it takes us longer to regain our health- January has been a challenging month for us both hope to get him feeling better soon and get the adjustments he needs- the day has been low key for us.  I’m stopping by Cafe Sabor for dinner tonight- we are going to be watching several movies to rest and past the time tonight and tomorrow.  All he can do right now is rest.   We were going to play in a group pickleball tournament in Montpellier tomorrow but had to cancel.   Wanted to mention our 18 year old granddaughter Karlee J Burbidge has not been feeling well for the past three weeks.  She hasn’t been able to go to work. She has been having terrible headaches and muscle fatigue in her arms and legs having hard time walking.  They did a head scan and nothing showing up so that is good.  The doctors are puzzled right now what is going on- we place her name on the temple prayer roll last night.  Her Blood work came back on Friday and she has mono.  It takes a long time to heal from.

Rexburg Temple /Conference Talk Oct - Sealing Power

Feb 1st a new month- January was a long month for me with sickness- I was sickly the entire month- a nasty flu bug that knocked me down and has lingered for 30 days.  Just the past few days I have finally felt the congestion lift.  I have been faithfully taking my vitamins and trying to nurse myself back to health. I’m not totally out of the woods so to speak - I felt a sore throat  coming on, while riding in the car to attend the temple.  So, I need to be careful and make sure I stay on my supplements. I do know I can go down fast. I was starting to get anxious not being able to do much getting tired of watching Tv to pass the time in my recovery process- finally just this past week I felt like reading and back to Studying the scriptures.  My experience from Cody has put me in a frame of mind to study with more purpose to find what we can do to encourage him to not give up on attending church.  I have read several conference talks and listened to several videos to opening my mind and knowledge of the gospel plan.  I have gained some great insights of teaching thru the spirit- that have increased my knowledge that this is Jesus Christ true Church on the earth- this is part of Satan’s plan to divide us even in our doctrine of the gospel and to cause doubt and distrust in our prophet and apostles.  Cody said he did not believe they are the true leaders of Christ’s church.  He doesn’t need organized religion. He has a good foundation yet is being led away by the precept of Man and the evil of talking against the prophet and apostles casting their teaching from among his life.  We have our work cut out for us to keep encouraging him in the right direction.  The highlight of our week has been attending the Rexburg temple with Lexi Reynolds a Young Single Adult in our branch who received her mission call to Houston, Texas she was receiving her temple blessing at the Rexburg, Idaho temple.  Craig felt we should support her as the branch president.  It is a huge time commitment! It is a three hour drive to Rexburg and back, 6 hours in the car round trip.  I got online to reserve two seats for us.  The 7pm session said it was full- yet we both felt we should go and that there would be seats available for us. Wanted to support her.  Lexi is a beautiful, radiant young women. I have enjoyed getting to know her since September when we were first called, meeting her at our YSA activities and attending sacrament on Sundays- you could see she has a very sweet spirit- she had submitted her mission papers and waiting for her mission call. Well, there has been a delay and she did not receive her mission call until January. Craig felt inspired to call her as our YSA relief society president for the short time we will have her in our branch.  Well, it ended up very short, just as she was sustained, a month later her mission call arrived.  So, she never really got a chance to serve much as our YSA Relief Society President. We are few in leadership right now and not having very many young sisters that can serve living in the Valley. I feel that I should go out and visit with those who are here fulltime to fellowship and help to strengthen the young sisters in this area- we have them for such a short time and it is important to nourish them while they are here in this short season that we have each of these young sisters- So with this back history we did make the trek to the temple and so glad we did. It felt so good to be in the temple.  We had not been back since May of 2023 that has been 8 months sad to say. Summer hit in June and we were so busy with family all summer and then receiving this new calling to serve as branch president our fall months have been full- we let the months go by not attending the temple.  I know we need to make a more concerted effort to get there more often. They made adjustment to the endowment session back in March of 2023 and I love the changes which make it more understandable and more focus on Jesus Christ- I felt these changes are preparing us for the millennium when the Savior will return and led his church personally.  I love the spirit of peace I feel while in the temple. The Rexburg temple is lovely- the city has grown in 50 years since I was last there attending college in the fall of 1975- it was fun to drive past the college campus and recognize the college layout when I was there.  I didn’t finish my semester there- coming from Texas to the cold north - I was freezing!  The winter weather was so cold and the emotional adjustment was a culture shock for me.  I ended up not having good roommates which really discouraged me.  I didn’t feel they were the spiritual influence I wanted to associate with.  The very cold climate and college environment was all overwhelming to me.  I packed up at Christmas break and went back to Texas I was not going back.  Looking back, I should have stayed. I gave up too easily.  I let my discouragement take over my experience there.  I should have asked for help from my leaders and gotten me out of the bad environment- I could have changed my roommates and that would have helped a lot.  The whole situation was hard being on my own for the first time- supporting myself, attending college in a strange environment- not knowing anyone- working at the hospital as a cook and attending college classes and having to walk everywhere in the very cold and bitter windy climate- the overall experience was not a positive one for me - and I bailed- I was going back to warmer climate.  This was a very challenging time in my young life with my parents divorced and my mother remarried and starting over, she was not there for me for emotional support. Charles my step-father just getting out of prison and starting over his life.  Crazy as it was, all of us children were living with my step-father in an apartment.  My mother had checked out- she was beginning her new marriage with John Wallace. It was a very difficult time for us all trying to rebuild our lives. I couldn’t do anything without money and that neither of my parents had to give- so when I returned, I had to get a job and work to pay my own way.  I did have a roof over my head living with Charles but it did not feel like a home -a place I did not want to be -with the sexual abuse from him over the years. I was afraid of him- so I got two jobs and I worked and worked and saved every dollar I made.  I was able to pay my car payment that got me to my jobs. I felt like I have been thrown in this evil world trying to learn how to survive.  The Lord did bless me and watched over me.  I kept my testimony of the church- it was my Iron Rod that kept me going thru those challenging days and writing my missionary Craig Symes- I wanted to marry this young man with all my heart.  Being in the temple last night reaffirmed to me my deep love for the gospel- my life boat and my love for my dear husband Craig. Serving in this calling has given me time to reflect about my life in my young adult season and how hard it was for me finding my way in the world. These years are so crucial and determine the future of my entire life choices I made in this season.  I had the goal to be married in the house of Lord and I strived to be worthy to enter the house of the Lord- being worthy to enter the temple has been a guiding light for me- so it felt so good to be in attendance.  It has given me the desire to get back to my family history research and be better in attending the temple this year. Don’t let 8 months pass me by again this year.  I have the desire and need to be in the temple at least monthly if not more- making the time this year for temple attendance in the businesses of living life. We made the time yesterday - a 6 hour drive.  It was a joy to see Lexi glowing and to meet her lovely parents who raised a beautiful daughter.   She is so blessed to have goodly supportive parents.  I don’t know how I safely got thru my young adult years, but I do know my love for my Saviors plan and my guardian angels helped to me make good choices.  

We arrived home at 12:30am- my dear hubby is hurting badly with a pinched nerve in his back. It just came on while driving home.  His neck was hurting badly last week and now it has moved into his back. This morning, we were sleeping in from our late night out and trying to get some relief from his back pain- I want to take the time to review the two temple names we acted as proxy for last night in the temple and prepare some names for our next temple trip- which I would like to plan for this next week.  I love these quotes from the October conference talk -The Sealing Power

By Elder D. Todd Christofferson- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The sealing power makes individual salvation and family exaltation universally available to the children of God.   It has been prophesied since at least the days of Isaiah that in the latter days, the Lord’s ancient covenant people, the house of Israel, should be “gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth” and restored to “the lands of their inheritance.” President Russell M. Nelson has spoken often and powerfully about this gathering, calling it “the most important thing taking place on earth today.  He then asks the question? What is the purpose of this gathering? By revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord identified one purpose as the protection of the covenant people. He said, “The gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, [will] be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.” “Wrath” in this context may be understood as the natural consequences of widespread disobedience to the laws and commandments of God. - “which we are seeing happening in the world “His talk continues - Most importantly, the gathering is for the purpose of bringing the blessings of salvation and exaltation to all who will receive them. It is how the covenant promises given to Abraham are realized. The Lord told Abraham that through his seed and priesthood “all the families of the earth [should] be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.” President Nelson expressed it this way: “When we embrace the gospel and are baptized, we take upon ourselves the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Baptism is the gate that leads to becoming joint heirs to all the promises given anciently by the Lord to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their posterity.”  - continues to explain - In 1836, Moses appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple and “committed … the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth.” On that same occasion, Elias appeared and “committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed.” With this authority, we now carry the gospel of Jesus Christ—the good news of redemption through Him—to all parts and peoples of the earth and gather all who will into the gospel covenant. They become “the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.”  On that same occasion in the Kirtland Temple, there was a third heavenly messenger who appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. I speak of the prophet Elijah, and it is the authority and keys he restored that I want to speak about today. The power to validate all priesthood ordinances and make them binding both on earth and in heaven—the sealing power—is crucial for gathering and preparing a covenant people on both sides of the veil. This is very powerful knowledge to me to know the heavenly priesthood has been restored to the earth to bless our lives and that these heavenly messengered came to earth to restore those keys necessary for our time to build temples and bless the people of the earth with the temple blessings -   “  I have a strong testimony this is true - it is a marvelous work and a wonder to me as I think about these heavenly servants of God returning to earth the keys necessary for our Eternal progression through the blessing of temple ordinances. “. He continued- quote-“Years earlier, Moroni had made it clear to Joseph Smith that Elijah would bring essential priesthood authority: “I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet.” Joseph Smith later explained: “Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood; and [unless] the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness”—that is, the ordinances would not be valid in both time and eternity.  In a teaching now canonized as scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Prophet stated: “It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah.”

We tend to think of the sealing authority as applying only to certain temple ordinances, but that authority is necessary to make any ordinance valid and binding beyond death. The sealing power confers a seal of legitimacy upon your baptism, for example, so that it is recognized here and in heaven. Ultimately, all priesthood ordinances are performed under the keys of the President of the Church, and as President Joseph Fielding Smith explained, “He [the President of the Church] has given us authority, he has put the sealing power in our priesthood, because he holds those keys.” -  close quote - note from my understand is these priesthood keys have been passed down from prophet to prophet  since they were restored in 1830 and are continuing on the earth today this is why we keep building temples to bless the people of the world as they receive these temple ordinance for themselves and their families here and after death creating eternal families-  Continues - quote - There is another vital purpose in the gathering of Israel that has special meaning when we talk about sealing on earth and in heaven—that is the building and operation of temples. As the Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “What was the object of gathering the … people of God in any age of the world? … The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.”  The validity that the sealing power gives to priesthood ordinances includes, of course, vicarious ordinances performed in the place designated by the Lord—His temple. Here we see the majesty and sacredness of the sealing power—it makes individual salvation and family exaltation universally available to the children of God wherever and whenever they may have lived on the earth. No other theology or philosophy or authority can match such an all-inclusive opportunity. This sealing power is a perfect manifestation of the justice, mercy, and love of God. With access to the sealing power, our hearts naturally turn to those who have gone before. The latter-day gathering into the covenant crosses through the veil. In the perfect order of God, the living cannot experience eternal life in its fulness without forging enduring links to “the fathers,” our ancestors. Likewise, the progress of those who are already on the other side, or who may yet cross through the veil of death without the benefit of sealings, is incomplete until vicarious ordinances bind them to us, their descendants, and us to them in the divine order. The commitment to aid one another across the veil can be classified as a covenant promise, part of the new and everlasting covenant. In Joseph Smith’s words, we want to “seal up our dead to come forth [with us] in the first resurrection.”  The highest and holiest manifestation of the sealing power is in the eternal union of a man and a woman in marriage and the linking of humankind through all their generations. Because the authority to officiate in these ordinances is so sacred, the President of the Church personally oversees its delegation to others. President Gordon B. Hinckley said on one occasion, “I have said many times that if nothing else came out of all of the sorrow and travail and pain of the restoration than the sealing power of the holy priesthood to bind together families forever, it would have been worth all that it has cost.”  

Without the sealings that create eternal families and link generations here and hereafter, we would be left in eternity with neither roots nor branches—that is, neither ancestry nor posterity. It is this free-floating, disconnected state of individuals, on the one hand, or connections that defy the marriage and family relations God has appointed, on the other hand, that would frustrate the very purpose of the earth’s creation. Were that to become the norm, it would be tantamount to the earth being smitten with a curse or “utterly wasted” at the Lord’s coming.

We can see why “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” At the same time, we recognize that in the imperfect present, this is not the reality or even a realistic possibility for some. But we have hope in Christ. While we wait upon the Lord, President M. Russell Ballard reminds us that “scriptures and latter-day prophets confirm that everyone who is faithful in keeping gospel covenants will have the opportunity for exaltation.”

This next quote really stood out to me - with my upheaval family life that I can heal the links of my family - quote - Some have experienced unhappy and unhealthy family circumstances and feel little desire for an eternal family association. Elder David A. Bednar made this observation: “To you who have experienced the heartache of a divorce in your family or felt the agony of violated trust, please remember [that God’s pattern for families] begins again with you! One link in the chain of your generations may have been broken, but the other righteous links and what remains of the chain are nonetheless eternally important. You can add strength to your chain and perhaps even help to restore the broken links. That work will be accomplished one by one.”  This quote really does give me comfort and the driven desire to keep going - I have been a faithful member all my early life and love serving in the temple and working on preparing my ancestors for the binding sealing ordinances as families in the eternal life ahead.  I have learned it has to be done on this earth - to continue binding in heaven forever as we strive to be obedient and endure to the end- this conference message has had a powerful motivation to keep the course and has given me even greater knowledge why it is so important in our earthly life.  The talks continues quote -  “In the funeral services for Sister Pat Holland, wife of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, last July, President Russell M. Nelson taught: “In time, Patricia and Jeffrey will be reunited. They will later be joined by their children and their covenant-keeping posterity to experience the fulness of joy that God has in store for His faithful children. Knowing that, we understand that the most important date in Patricia’s life was not her birth date or her death date. Her most important date was June 7, 1963, when she and Jeff were sealed in the St. George Temple. … Why is this so important? Because the very reason the earth was created was so families could be formed and sealed to each other. Salvation is an individual matter, but exaltation is a family matter. No one can be exalted alone.”  - close quote - I love this quote helping me to realize that the most important date in my life is the date I was sealed to my dear husband Craig Symes June 7th 1977 in the Salt Lake temple - as eternal companions the first couple sealing in my generation of ancestors since the beginning of the restored church in 1830 which was 147 years later my family branch thru me has found the gospel truth and the knowledge we can be sealed as families- I have felt such joy as I knelt at the sealing alter as a young bride to begin our life journey together- the tears of joy flowed uncontrollable-  I was alone and had no family to attend this sacred moment in time - but felt the angels beyond the veil cheering me on-  I have since felt this urgency to provide these temple ordinances for my own ancestor so they can reap in this same eternal joy they are depending on me to find their names and submit to the temple of the Lord for their eternal progression.  It brings me great joy as I continue this great work.  In closing he quotes - “A couple who over the years have become close friends represented her parents at the altar. It was an emotional moment that became even sweeter when our Argentine friend was sealed to her parents. There were just six of us present on a quiet afternoon away from the world, and yet one of the most important things that ever takes place on the earth was happening.  I was gratified that my role and association had come full circle from knocking on her door as a young missionary to now, these many years later, performing the sealing ordinances that linked her to her parents and past generations. This is a scene taking place constantly all over the world in temples. This is the ultimate step in gathering the covenant people. It is the highest privilege of your membership in the Church of Jesus Christ. I promise that as you faithfully seek that privilege, in time or eternity it will surely be yours.

I testify that the sealing power and authority restored to earth through Joseph Smith are real, that what is thereby bound on earth truly is bound in heaven. I testify that President Russell M. Nelson, as President of the Church, is the one man on earth today that by his keys directs the use of this supernal power. I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ has made immortality a verity and the possibility of exalted family relationships a reality. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.   I’m so grateful for this message it has touched my soul ! 

 

Our Beautiful Lexie- serving her mission in Texas the Lone Star State of United States I was raised in Texas and know there are many good christians looking for the fullness of the gospel.