Draper Utah Temple

We just got home from the dedication of the Draper Utah Temple.  We went to our stake center and watched it by satellite.  One of the many statements that impressed me was that in troubled times we need the temple.  It will be the one thing that will bring peace into our lives.  Regular temple workshop draws us closer to our Father and our Savior.  As we attend the temple we have a greater desire to become like Him.

It took me back to the dedication of the Vernal Temple.  I remember President Hinckley saying that it took 40 years to build the Salt Lake Temple and it took 90 years to build the Vernal Temple.  After the dedication of the Vernal Temple I asked the kids what impressed them the most.  

David: He was impressed that he didn't fall asleep.  

Melanie:  Seeing the prophet and her favorite apostle Elder Oaks.  

Carolyn:  It was so cool that even though we were not in the same room as the prophet you could still feel the spirit so strongly.  

Daniel:  It was all cool.  

Mary:  It took President Joseph F. Smith 3 days to get to Vernal to dedicate the Vernal Tabernacle in 1907.  He traveled by train to Colorado, then by stagecoach and buggy to Vernal.  In President Smith said he would not be surprised if a temple would be built in your midst.  President Hinckley said that was the same as saying a temple would be there.  (Side note: It took President Hinckley 20 minutes to fly to Vernal for the 1997 dedication of the temple.)

A New Thought... at least for me

I was reading about the Prophet Joseph Smith's account of the Prophet Elijah restoring the sealing powers to the earth, when I came across an article by Robert L Millet.  Do you know what was happening on April 6, 1836 in other parts of the world while Elijah was in the Kirtland temple with the Prophet of God?  Well this article tells the rest of the story.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith’s account continues: 'After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse' (D&C 110:13–15). Precisely on that day in 1836 when Elijah’s appearance took place, Jews throughout the world were engaged in the celebration of the Passover. Since the time of Malachi, four centuries before Christ’s mortal birth, Jews worldwide have awaited Elijah’s coming at Passover with anxious anticipation. Elijah came, but not to Jewish homes; he came rather to a temple of the Saints and to his legal administrator on earth, a descendant of Joseph and Ephraim. There Elijah bestowed keys of inestimable worth."  (Robert L. Millet, "The Ancient Covenant Restored," Ensign, Mar 1998, 36)

Leading in the Lord's Way

I gave my Relief Society lesson today.  It was Chapter 24 Leading in the Lord's Way.  The lesson spent quite a bit of time on Zion's Camp.  It was so good.  I had not realized it but 9 of the 12 apostles and all of the Seventy had served in Zion's Camp.  It was quite a training ground for the leadership of the church.  

There had also be quite a bit of murmuring and complaining going on during Zion's Camp.  One line from the lesson keeps playing over and over in my head.  "Even a dog could not bark at some men without their murmuring to Joseph."  I wonder what dog bark we murmur about.  Here are a few that I have heard and sorry to say a few that I have said.  Worse yet I have thought many of them.

"Don't answer the phone.  It will just be someone telling me they won't be at church today to teach their primary class."

"I don't know why we even go to this house to get fast offerings.  They never pay."

"I'm a teacher, why do I have to do fast offerings?  Why aren't the deacons doing it?"

To a 15 year old teacher who had been preparing to pass the sacrament until a 12 year old deacon came into the room.  "You lucked out this time."

"Do I have to go visiting teaching to that house?"

"Her as a companion? Oh no!"

"Thank goodness the blue and gold is only once a year!"

"I just don't have time to go visiting teaching."

"You want me to take a meal to someone tonight?"

What kind of message do I send when I murmur?  If I can't be faithful over the small things how will I ever be faithful over the big things.  I want to be like the group who "...were always ready and willing to do as our leader desired."  

Perfect Sunday

It has been one of those Sunday's that you hear so many good things that while you would like to remember them all you know you will only remember part.

Reed taught our Sunday School lesson on "The Spirit of Revelation."  We learned how to receive personal revelation.  One of the best ideas was to turn off the TV so that Satan is not jamming our airways with junk.  

Our Relief Society Lesson came from a talk by Clyde J Williams in the Jan 1996 Ensign titled "A Shield Against Evil.  Wow that was good.  Satan has set snares and we need to use the scriptures to avoid those snares.  

Here are the snares Satan has set.

1.  Relying on Worldly Wisdom

2.  Anger and Contention

3.  Seeking Happiness in Sin

4.  Ignorance of Evil

5.  Spiritual Apathy

6.  Rationalization

7.  Vain and Worldly Things

Avoid those snares by:

1.  Realizing that Satan will not support his own.

2.  Shake off Spiritual Lethargy.

3.  Watch and Pray

4.  Hold to the Rod

5.  We are Free to Choose our own course in Life

6.  We can Bind Satan

If you want to read a good article check this one out.

Learn Of God

Learn of me, and listen to my words:  walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.  (Doctrine and Covenants 19:23)

My next Relief Society lesson is "Gaining Knowledge of Eternal Truths."  It seems that everything I read or listen to points me in the direction of gaining knowledge.  I was just setting here trying to think of something to blog about.  I was thinking that my pondering was running a bit short.  Nothing was coming to mind.  I looked over and saw the back of my True To The Faith reference guide and there was the above scripture.  I thought. "Wow there is my lesson in one sentence.    Now that I have my lesson prepared I wonder what I will do the the rest of my 30 minutes?"  

Not really.  It is a good lesson and I can hardly wait to give it.  I really do love that scripture.

I am grateful that the Lord has given me this opportunity to teach.  I am grateful that He is mindful of me and shows me so many little things that can help me with His message.  The other day as I was reading a passage by Joseph Smith I could not help but be amazed that this unlearned boy had turned into such a knowledgeable man.  I had to actually look up two words in the paragraph so I could make sense out of the statement.  Joseph Smith's understanding was truly quickened by the Spirit of God.  

Lifelong Learning

I just listened to a talk by Robert D Hales entitled "The Journey of Lifelong Learning."  He gave the talk at BYU Education Week this past August.  Wow that was a good talk.  I liked it enough to download it so I could listen to it anytime.  I could not believe how well it goes with the lesson that I will  be teaching in Relief Society this month.  It seems like as I prepare my lesson I always find a talk that goes right along with it.    

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade

I am feeling a little heart broken at the moment.  It seems that over the Christmas break two young people have decided that life is not worth living and have committed suicide.  While I did not know either of these young people my heart is heavy with sorrow as I find myself shedding tears for them and for their families.  I hope that peace can find it's way into the lives of the families left behind.

I can honestly say that I have never suffered from depression to the point that these two have.  I have never even considered suicide.  While I have no idea of how they may have suffered before they came to this point in their lives, I do know one thing...  When life gets you down and you feel like you can no longer cope, CALL someone.  A mom, a dad, a brother, a sister, a friend, a stranger for that matter but whatever you do you need to talk to someone now.