Sunday, February 7, 2016

Just Over Four Months Left...

Here it is Sunday, once again.  I know I have said this before but I wonder where the time goes?  It seems that I just write one blog and it is time to do it again. I’m sure this is a good thing because when one is busy, the time flies by.  And we have been busy this week again.
I start of my week (after Sunday of course) by volunteering in the Sewing Center at BYU-H.  Most of my time there has been non-productive other than having the door open incase someone needs to use it.  Two weeks ago I had a young man come in to patch some jeans where he had worn a couple of holes.  I asked him if he had ever sewn before and he told me no.  It was so much easier and faster to just do it for him than to teach him how to run a machine and all—so I did.  He told me that he was going to leave the Island later this month so he could go back home and get married.  Such a nice young man and even though I didn’t know him I wish him all the blessings that come with marriage in the house of the Lord.

This week in the temple, we have had several new ordinance workers start so I have been very busy training them in the temple procedures and ordinances.  I know I have said this before but I am so fortunate to be able to work with so many sisters in the gospel from all over the world as we serve our Heavenly Father in His Holy House.  Yesterday a friend of Carlee’s and her family came to the temple to do some sealings and it was fun to talk to her as a little bit of connection to my home.  As is typical in the Laie Temple, some times of the day are very slow and some are very busy.  It makes me so sad to see when it is slow and people aren’t taking advantage of the blessings of the temple even though it is so close.

Today in church I was once again blessed to have the spirit with me and internalize so many messages.  It was Fast Sunday so several testimonies tugged at my heart today.  One little girl of maybe eight or nine talked about having had a frightening experience with the wind blowing their tent down and how she and her sister said a prayer that everything would be ok.  She testified that Heavenly Father listens to our prayers and that he loves us.  I was touched because she cried almost all the way through her testimony. 
A brother who bore his testimony talked of trials and how hard they are but how the atonement of Jesus Christ is always there for us to rely on.  As he reminded us, I thought back on the many times that I have called upon those wonderful blessings the atonement affords each of us.  We know that through Christ and our obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel, we WILL see and be with our loved ones who have passed from this earth life.  I know I have mentioned this before too, but this is such a great comfort to me after having lost my eternal companion way to young and both of my parents.

Our Sunday School lesson comes from 2Nephi 1 and 2 with discussions about how each of us have agency to choose our path in life.  The thing we cannot choose is the consequence for our actions and our choices.  Even outside of gospel teachings, I used to teach this to my students in Teen Living class.  Many of the students weren’t able to or didn’t want to recognize that consequences were in direct proportion with the offense.  So it is with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have positive consequences for following the commandments and becoming more Christ-like but we also have consequences for those things that are not in accordance with His will for us. 
As a final thought for tonight, as we sang the song, "I know that My Redeemer Lives" the words really made me ponder- especially the third verse.  "He lives, my kind, wise heavenly Friend.  He lives and loves me to the end.  He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing. He lives, my Prophet, Priest and King.  He lives and grants me daily breath.  He lives and I shall conquer death.  He lives my mansion to prepare.  He lives to bring me safely there."  I truly believe that He will bring me safely home through my obedience.

Now, on to another week.

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