The Work of the Lord

On Sunday April 10th we had the missionaries over for dinner. They are the UVU missionaries, which happen to be a friend from back home; Elder Bitton, and our cousin Elder Beihl! I guess as missionaries over a college you don't get very many invitations to dinner. So we decided that every couple of months we are going to invite the UVU missionaries over for dinner. It was such a wonderful experience hearing about them preaching the gospel, and the reception that the gospel has here in a state that you would presume is mainly Mormon. It is so wonderful to see how a mission changes a person, how the person you knew back home, is not really the same person on the mission. They are so invested in the work, and they care so much about the people. They truly learn to love the people they teach

Missionary Moments

We need to strive to be constant missionaries.

We need to support the missionaries.

This is a way for us to track our missionary efforts. To document our interactions with non-members, and our preaching of the gospel. When we talk to people about our beliefs, we are strengthening our own testimonies, and hopefully spreading the good word of the Lord.

Temple Blessings

Blessings of the Temple

“I think there is no place in the world where I feel closer to the Lord than in one of His holy temples.”                                                                            President Thomas S. Monson

           On December 20th 2008 Patrick and I were sealed for time and eternity in the House of the Lord. The blessings the Temple brings into my life are evident every day. The temple is a place where we are taught, make covenents, and  receive ordinences that enable us to live in the presence of God. Patrick and I try to attend the Temple as much as we can. The purpose of this section is to record our feelings and promptings that we have received in the temple.
       I have a testimony that the ordinences done in the temple are eternal in nature, that through these ordinences, we can be together as a family forever.

What is done in the temple?
Here is information on what happens in the temple, this information is found off of LDS.org

Endowment

One ordinance we receive in the temple is the endowment. The word endowment means “gift” or “bestowal.” As part of this ordinance, we are taught about the purpose of life, the mission and Atonement of Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. We gain a glimpse of what it will be like to live in His presence as we feel the peaceful atmosphere of the temple.

Sealing

Another temple ordinance is the sealing ordinance, in which husbands and wives are sealed to each other and children are sealed to their parents in eternal families. This means that if we are faithful to our covenants, our family relationships will continue for eternity. People sometimes also refer to this ordinance as “temple marriage” or “eternal marriage.”

Ordinances for the Deceased

In addition to receiving these ordinances for ourselves, we can receive them for our deceased ancestors. In this way, people who died without receiving essential ordinances such as baptism and confirmation, the endowment, and sealing have the opportunity to accept these ordinances.
                                                                                                                                     (lds.org)



Genealogy

Genealogy is a very important aspect of Temple work. In the Temple we can do work for the dead; meaning that we are able to do ordinences that are necessary for salvation for those who are dead.

Jesus Christ taught that baptism is essential to the salvation of all who have lived on earth (see John 3:5). Many people, however, have died without being baptized. Others were baptized without proper authority. Because God is merciful, He has prepared a way for all people to receive the blessings of baptism. By performing proxy baptisms in behalf of those who have died, Church members offer these blessings to deceased ancestors. Individuals can then choose to accept or reject what has been done in their behalf.

Patrick's family has done almost all of the Genealogy work for their family already, but my grandparents on both my mother's and my father's side are converts, so we have a lot of people who are waiting for their work to be done.

We will be trying to do the temple work for at least one member of the family per month.

Tithing

Tithing is a tenth part of a person’s annual increase given to the Lord through the Church. Tithing funds are used to build churches and temples, to sustain missionary work, and to build the kingdom of God on earth.

When we pay tithing, we are promised blessings. I beleive that the Lord DOES bless us when we follow his commandments. We have been paying tithing; ten percent of our income, to the Church. This is not just a way to give to the Church our finances, but it is a way for us to show our commitment to the Lord. That no matter what we are going through we will honor our promise to God of paying our tithing, and in return he will bless us for our obedience.

The Widows Mite

"And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" (Mark 12: 42-44)

Pioneer Day July 24th

Pioneer day is a day that we celebrate the early pioneers that crossed the plains to escape persecution, and moved west. In Utah this is a holiday where there are fire works, parades, and rodeos. 

Our ancestors were not part of the initial pioneers, but in their own respect they were pioneers into the United States, and pioneers for the church. My paternal grandfather came out west looking for work, and ended in Utah in the land of the Mormons, when he had never heard of a Mormon before. He eventually served a mission in Germany, and there met his wife. After his mission she came to the United States a new convert to the LDS faith, and  did not speak any English. They were pioneers of this faith and from them came four children, all the men serving missions., from their children they have had four missionaries, 3 temple marriages, and many more to come.

From Patrick's ancestors came the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, and many many faithful members of the church.

although we are not pioneers that have to walk thousands of miles and push handcarts, we are pioneers in our own day and in our own way.

-on Pioneer Day we will celebrate our heritage, and look to the ways we can influence the generations to come.

-This is about the half-way point of the year, we will asses our New Year Resolutions, and create new ones, or recommit to the one that might have fallen on the wayside. 

Organization of the Church