Friends

As I serve with dear sisters in the temple, I have grown to love them dearly. They are like family to me. Our temple is closed so I haven't seenn some of them for quite a while. I met a few of them the other day in the Bountiful Temple.

I miss them so much I felt like crying I was so happy to see them. We picked up right where we left off a few months ago. What a blessing friendship is. Heavenly Father has given us a lot of blessings, but friendship is one of the greatest.

The greatest friend we have is the Savior
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(New Testament | John 15:10 - 14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Thanksgiving

And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more. D&C 78:19

I would that ye should do . . .  all things with prayer and thanksgiving. D&C 46:7

Death

A dear friend who worked with us doing compassionate service at the hospital as just died. She was ill two weeks ago when I was out of town. She was in intensive care at the hospital and was sent home to die. When I got back and found out about it, I felt sick. I was so sad inside and it all felt so sudden. I couldn't see her, but I was able to talk to her on the phone.

I was impressed by her peacefulness. She was looking forward to being with her husband who had been gone quite a few years. A hint of excitement and anticipation was in her voice. She will truely die unto the Lord.

I will miss my friend, but I know she lives in a better place.

She believes as Martha:
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
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New Testament | John 11:25 - 26)

Sunbeams

I spent some time with dear friends in the temple this week. (I really LOVE doing that.) We were talking about the church callings we enjoyed most. My favorite is teaching the Sunbeams in Primary.

They are so cute and little and innocent and love to listen to what you say. They have such wonderful ways of doing things and say such funny things.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

(New Testament | Matthew 18:4 - 5)And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Summer is being with family

These next couple of weeks are crazy. We have a grandson that will be blessed in Phoenix, and daughter that may have back surgery in Portland, Oregon, and children and grandchildren coming to visit inbetween.

Aren't families wonderful? I LOVE spending time with all of them. They are the light of my life.

Remember, O Lord . . . thy church, that thy right hand may exalt them, with all their families, and their immediate connections, that their names may be perpetuated and had in everlasting remembrance from generation to generation. Remember all thy church, O Lord, with all their families, and all their immediate connections, with all their sick and afflicted ones, with all the poor and meek of the earth; that the kingdom, which thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth;
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 109:71 - 72)

Pioneers

Brigham Young's door was always open to those around him. Heber J. Grant records:“I was almost as familiar in the homes of President Brigham Young as I was in the home of my own mother. In one home … if I was hungry I felt as free to go in and ask for something to eat there as in my own home. … I knelt down time and time again in his home in the Lion House at family prayers, as a child and as a young man.” 

Gratitude

At this time of year, I'm especially grateful for my pioneer heritage. I do love the devotion of the pioneers of the Church. As I am writing about John  Taylor, I know he didn't have many nails to build his house or many matches to lite a fire. All the little things we take forgranted--things we don't even  give a second thought to were precious to them.

That first winter the pioneers supplemented their meager diet with sego lily and camus bulbs. They added thistle root when they could find it. How many of us would even consider eating those things now? I don't know if I would.

What faith they must have had to endure the trials before them.

Bathsheba Smith records that she swept the floor of her home in Nauvoo and set the broom in its accustomed place behind the door and walked into the unknown to journey west where her faith in God could grow.

I am grateful for her testimony.

Divinity

“Man, as the offspring of God, is the greatest of all his creations.  He is greater than the moon, the sun, and the stars, which are the work of the fingers of God.”  Joseph Fielding Smith, quoted by Bruce R. Mc Conkie.

Do I know of my divinity? My greatness? At times I capture a glance of it fleetingly, but mostly I can’t comprehend it. How about you?

Testimony

And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
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I love this scripture. It is one of my favorites. When I read it, I can feel it's power, and I am grateful.Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:22 - 23) For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

Testimony

I have just been getting ready for a granddaughter's baptism. I have collected written testimonies from all our family and will give them to her in a small booklet so she can read them whenever she wishes. I've also gathered testimonies from her ancestors that were converted to the church.

As I put the booklet together, I feel such overwhelming gratitude for the strength of our family. I am thankful to be so blessed to belong to such valiant spirits of our Father in Heaven. What a great gift. It is more precious than anything else on the earth.

Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 62:3)