August 29, 2011

I want to remember, and have Karen always remember this day - to mark it on the calendar. She was talking with me about some of her feelings and apprehensions now that her husband has died and I told her that I knew there were many good things ahead of her. By far the most important portion of that conversation was my statement's being ratified by the spirit. Gratitude!

Full Days, Weeks and Healing

We taught our sixth Career Workshop this past week where we trained the Gibsons, our wonderful new missionary couple at the ERC, and also the Connors who are church service missionaries assigned to the Raleigh, South Carolina ERC. Delightful people....we learned much from them. Several of our past CW clients have found work, so that is very satisfying to see the principles applied and the blessings received. Friday we had an office party for Sister P as it was her birthday. She doesn't like sweets and only wanted a peach, so that is what I sliced on a plate with a dollop of cream and a cherry. The rest of us had ice cream, banana pudding, and black-eyed pea salsa. Now doesn't that sound appetizing! After work we went straight to a co-worker's house to clean as she and her husband have bought their first house and need to get out of their rental. Her husband, Scott, said to us, 'I hope this doesn't offend you, but you are like our mothers!" We felt highly complimented as both of their families are states away! We had an opportunity to be mothers again on Saturday when we attended the sealing ceremony of Vincent and Marilyn. Vincent works next to us in the Bishop's Storehouse in the Warehouse. His mother is inactive and could not be at the temple nor the reception, so once again, we were highly complimented to be "mothers" there for him and his lovely bride, Marilyn. We care a great deal about Vincent so it was wonderful to feel the spirit as the ordinance took place so we could know this was right. This is their second marriage and both have children, so there will be some adjusting. Church was very tender today as C and her son came with us for the first time. C was adopted as an infant and has suffered at the hands of abusers ever since childhood. When she came to the ERC for the first time she mentioned in the course of the registration process that she was visiting churches trying to find the one right for her. I will state the obvious,Heavenly Father is very much with this amazing woman. Her experiences would have turned a normal person bitter and hard, but her heart is very tender and compassionate. From the Opening Hymn in Sacrament Meeting to the closing song in RS and everything in between: Reverence, Love, Personal Revelation, Prophets, The Sabbath, The Sacrament, The Atonement, Pain, Becoming as a Little Child....it all resonated with her; she is feeling love and welcome and truth. We, with C are meeting with the elders Wednesday evening at church. Elder Nelson was hoping Justin would come to Young Men's that evening. I am eager to hear how he felt about his experience today. People may wonder how I can say Heavenly Father is watching over C when He allowed horrible things to happen to her. I am sure I have no glib answer, but I do have my opinion and it is this. Before we came to this earth, we lived in bliss with our Heavenly parents...perfect love, but we were children, not living the kind of life our Heavenly parents live. We were given the opportunity for that kind of exalted life, but it meant leaving an unimaginable place of light and love and in effect, jumping into "darkness"; coming to earth to fulfill that portion of Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness that requires a body, learning, testing, and acquiring the attributes of Jesus Christ. It is my opinion that in allowing C her agency, Heavenly Father said to her, "this is the plan I have detailed for you; it will involve suffering as others use their agency exactly opposite to my plan of love and kindness. If I always intervene and prevent improper use of agency, prevent suffering, there is no agency. No one can prove themselves or develop through overcoming, because there is nothing to overcome." What would make C choose such a painful plan? It is difficult to imagine what would be worth that kind of suffering only because we cannot remember our pre-mortal life with Heavenly Father. If the veil were lifted and we could glimpse that life, we would make the same choice I believe C made....She would go through anything to have the chance to live together forever exalted in the Celestial Kingdom never to be parted. Anything! If we could see....it would not be a test...faith would not be required as it is now. A loving Heavenly Father has brought C to a place where the gospel can be introduced to her....and it rings true. She is about to be able to choose to be completely and forever healed through our loving Savior and through His Gospel.

A Conference with an Apostle of Jesus Christ

Today was one of those days with an experience you don’t even think of dreaming about. We drove to Fayetteville for an hour and a half missionary conference with Elder M. Russell Ballard of The Council of the Twelve Apostles. The congregation was extremely reverent while waiting for the meeting to start in anticipation of hearing from a special witness of Jesus Christ. “Reverence Invites Revelation” was written on a sign in the hall. Elder Ballard brought with him Elder Gay, a Seventy who served as a Mission President in Ghana.

Highlights from Elder Ballard’s remarks:

Elder Ballard called a missionary companionship out of the audience to teach him the first discussion as if he were an investigator, including reciting from memory Joseph Smith’s testimony of the First Vision. I was able to recite the words in my mind along with him. We were instructed to memorize this in the MTC so I was happy for that missionary that he had been obedient and could fulfill Elder Ballard’s request with confidence.

· We must accelerate! We have to move! Heavenly Father is discouraged over the condition of the human family. (Elder G: It’s about the last days and about gathering.)

· The Rescue, conversion and reactivation, always begins not with what people know, but with what they feel.

· This is a war! The War in Heaven did not end with the expulsion of Lucifer and his hosts; it rages today in the hearts of men. (2Ne:28)

· Lucifer will do anything he can do to eliminate unity between missionaries and members. (Elder G: No mission will reach its full potential without engaging the members.)

· The full time missionaries are a very important part of the ward council.

· When investigators visit the auxiliaries, myths are dispelled.

· Bishops should take responsibility to see that Sacrament Meeting is a spiritual experience every Sunday with the focus being partaking of the Sacrament in remembrance of the sacrifice of the Savior. He has been in Sacrament meetings where the only mention of Christ was in the Sacrament prayers and in the opening and closing prayers. We should teach and preach of Christ so Sacrament Meeting becomes a sanctuary, a holy place, a spiritual experience.

· He has given more thought than probably any other member of the Council of the Twelve as to why so many people drop out after the first discussion: we do not teach with understanding. The investigator does not grasp the principle of God’s being his literal loving Father in Heaven. They are off in left field asking some fantastic question. Missionaries should respectfully bring the discussion back to the principle of a loving Father in Heaven with a Plan for His children.

· Don’t scare people off by committing them to baptism with the first discussion; rather say to them, “ as we teach you, and as you begin to know these things are true, we are going to invite you to be baptized.” This opens the door and introduces the thought of baptism.

· Missionaries, don’t try to do this work on your own; focus on trusting HIM. Let Heaven assist you by having a prayer in your heart all day. Great and marvelous are the blessings when They are involved.

· The Lord, Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father are marvelous wonderful gentlemen – They only come when they are invited.

· Measure the success of your missionary work by how strong the stakes and wards are.

· Be the kind of missionary your mother thinks you are.

· We are on the Lord’s errand; it is the greatest privilege anyone can have, to be His servant. May we serve Him well.

During the closing hymn, #319, Ye Elders of Israel, there was a verse where all the missionaries stood up during the hymn and then sat down at the end of a verse and continued singing. Before the closing prayer, Elder Ballard stood up and asked the audience to not begin practices that are not the order of the church. He said, “Stake Presidents, Bishops, take care of this.” He stated he hoped no one was upset with this but that part of the assignment of the Quorum of the Twelve was to go throughout the church and regulate it, making sure all was done in accordance with the guidelines.

Elder Ballard stated that they kept us in the meeting a half an hour longer than planned and that they had to be at a Young Single Adult Conference at 5:00, so….he asked everyone to lift their right hands in a certain position and then shake it….he said, “Good. Now I have shaken all of your hands.” There were gathered in that meeting, under one roof, every priesthood leader with the keys of Rescue for that Coordinating Council…stake presidents, bishops, branch presidents, missionaries, ward mission leaders, and none of them got to shake Elder Ballard’s hand, because he had to leave at the conclusion of the prayer; however….two missionaries who did not hold keys were able to shake Elder Ballard’s hand, and that was Sister Peterson and myself. Before the meeting began, as Sister Peterson and I were by the water fountain, Elder Ballard came by and when he saw us, asked to shake our hands. As I sat in the chapel before the meeting began thinking of what just happened, I realized that when I shook Elder Ballard’s hand, I was able to look into his eyes and hold a level steady gaze, completely at ease and most grateful to be shaking the hand of an Apostle. This has significance only to me because I am very conscious of my faults that I have to do battle with everyday and I am constantly praying to Heavenly Father for help in overcoming them. How can I be the missionary I should be when this battle is ever with me? This tender mercy with Elder Ballard, an Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ, helped me realize that I am acceptable to Him as a missionary with no cause for guilt because of my struggles with my imperfections. It was extremely humbling to recognize that Heavenly Father is aware of my struggles and chose to reassure me in such a magnificent way…an experience I will cherish always.

Newest Little Ward Member

Little Antoinette Dikia was only a few days old when this picture was taken. A call went out to the sisters in the ward for help as her mother and grandmother had nothing in the line of baby items to care for her. You know the members of Relief Society responded, as today for her blessing she was dressed in a beautiful yellow dress and was a little angel throughout.