Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Stars & Stripes FOREVER!


When we stumbled across this 'stirring' rendition of the STARS and STRIPES, it became IMPOSSIBLE to restrain ourselves from sharing this with everyone we love!

(Of course, we realize some of you will think that we hate you in posting this, but that's far from the truth!)

We hope you'll laugh as much as we did and enjoy the Muppet's Tribute to America on her birthday!

Our INSPIRATIONAL FAMILY FOCUS comes from THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR and a collection of their CD's: 
"Spirit of America"  - Includes the following tribute from Charles Osgood:  "Over my many years of broadcasting, I've had quite a glimpse of this land we call America. And I can tell you that there is a truly American spirit which pervades the many facets of this diverse people and country. Its origins lie in the spirit of faith that led to the founding of the nation and it is renewed in the basic principles of equality, liberty, and freedom we all take so for granted every day. Portraying that American essence—whether in an essay, a photograph, or a piece of music—is no small task. But I believe this recording by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square captures and celebrates the spirit of America in a truly remarkable way.

From early folk songs and beloved hymns to patriotic fanfare of yesteryear to stirring new pieces written just for the Choir, you'll find music that will touch your heart, lift your spirit, and tickle your fancy. All your favorites are here—"God Bless America," "America the Beautiful," the National Anthem, "Battle Hymn of the Republic"—as well as music by some of America's favorite composers, such as George M. Cohan, Irving Berlin, John Williams, and the Choir's own Mack Wilberg. There's even a piece by yours truly, which I hope you enjoy.

I think you'll find that Spirit of America by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will take a special place in your music collection. Its celebration of the American spirit will nurture and strengthen present and future generations of Americans and freedom loving people everywhere." —Charles Osgood



"AMERICA's CHOIR"  - Music for this album is drawn from the PBS documentary by Lee Groberg and the accompanying DVD which herald this remarkable organization and its lasting imprint on the music world. (See also the book by Heidi Swinton, author of the documentary). Featured are the arrangements of Mack Wilberg, associate conductor of the Choir, who also scored the film.




"Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing: American Folk Hymns & Spirituals " - This recording honors the enduring vitality of folk hymns and spirituals and their ability to anchor the soul in faith. From the sturdy strains of “Saints Bound for Heaven” and the fervent entreaty of “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” to one of the most popular folk hymns of all time, “Amazing Grace,” these songs and hymns gave comfort, hope, and confidence to the early American pioneers. Their power and simplicity still inspire us today.



"Encore Collection: The Many Sounds of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir " - Featuring four full-length CD's, the Encore Collection showcases the versatility and breadth of one of America's most beloved ensembles, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. From the inspiring strains of Consider the Lilies to the majestic patriotism on Spirit of America, to the Broadway and Hollywood classics on Showtime! to the stunning artistry of Requiem, the many sounds of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the Encore Collection make it a must-have for every music lover.

We just love being an AMERICAN and knowing that America's Choir is one of us!


Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Mormon

Mormon
The Book of Mormon. Another Testament of Jesus...Image via Wikipedia
Latter-day Saints believe in the resurrected J...Image via Wikipedia
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God Bless America - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

HERE IT IS!!  GOD BLESS AMERICA -- THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -- AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL -- ALL SUNG BY AMERICA'S FAVORITE CHOIR!!!We are soooo sorry that you can't watch and listen to THE CHOIR in the Blogger viewing pane! (The CHOIR has not allowed their videos/music to be embedded.) HOWEVER, they DO allow you to click and watch and listen on their channel!!  It's well worth the extra clicks to hear the sounds of heaven!!  AND you can also click to watch and listen to the BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, the MARINE HYMN and several other wonderful hymns that will help you to fire up that patriotism in your soul!  ENJOY!
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Saturday, June 26, 2010

FISH STORY

Is it a log?? Is it a crocodile??  A shark??     NO!!!  It's some of the GIANT fish we now have swimming in our lake!!

Fish and Game, in conjuction with the Stansbury Park Service agency, planted about 800 of these fish in the lake.
These GIANT fish are suppossed to eat the moss growing in the lake,  which will make the fish grow longer and bigger!   Some are already over 3' in length with a fat bodies and wide mouths.
They rarely come up to the surface, so today was most exciting for our grandson - and us!  There were about 25 fish in their school.  These fish can swim quite fast and they were swimming as if in a water ballet.  Each seemed to have it's own position in watching out for the group, which was scattered across a large portion of the lake.  (I tried to get a picture showing the 25-30 giant fish, but when I zoomed out to fit the group inside the photo frame, the fish just looked like dark dots in the water.


I expect the grandkids will have great fun keeping a watch on what's swimming in the lake from their picture window!

Is there possibly a FAMILY INSPIRATIONAL FOCUS with this post??   

 Yes, there is!! 

We refer you to the following great FISH STORIES:  

When Jesus called His Apostles, He said they would be “fishers of men” Matt. 4:18-22Jonah and the great fish—Jonah 1–2; feeding the 5,000—Mark 6:33–44; the tribute coin—Matt. 17:24–27;  “I go a fishing”—John 21:3–6; broiled fish and honeycomb—Luke 24:36–43.  When we think about ALL of the various colors and sizes of fish, we can remember that the gospel is for “every nation, kindred, tongue and people” (1 Ne. 19:17).   Indeed, we find great joy when we are “fishers of men” and share the gospel!    
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Good Things to Come

Our dear friends, Dick and Sandy Merrill, currently serving back in Madrid sent us their testimony experience that relates with Elder Holland's video. We are grateful that the Merrills have given us permission to post their story here on our blog:

"This video brought back a memory of a similar experience we had back in 1964. I had the same kind of feelings that Elder Holland expressed in this video.

We were returning to Utah after completing pilot training in Del Rio, Texas. It was November, 1964 and somewhere south of Price, Utah our car Fiat ( tinkertoy ) burned up and we were stranded in the middle of nowhere.

 I finally found a country home right on the highway after an extended run and was able to call for a tow truck from Price. He took our car and us on into Price where we were faced with the problem of what to do. Our car needed major repair and we didn't have much time because I was due very soon in Stead AFB near Reno, Nevada for a 3 week survival course in the snowy Sierra Mountains of Nevada and California.

We checked in to a motel and knelt down that night and offered a prayer of thanks and requested advice on how to proceed. We were both impressed with the same thought that we should get a more reliable vehicle. Sandy and our first born were taking this all very well inspite of the fact that she was expecting our second in March.

When I think about some of the things we have been through together, I am reminded of how much I cherish and love her. We found out the next day the block had been cracked and that the tiny engine was pretty well destroyed. So we asked to speak with the Car dealer there, who was a Mr Read and see if we could get anything for our car and use it to trade for another. All I had was govt. ID from the Air Force and an un-expiring Phillips Petroleum credit card and a promise of good faith because of who and what I was. He agreed to sell us a car and we picked a silver Impala Super Sport off the show room floor
 and they prepared it for us and we drove it on to SLC and I went on to Reno for training.

I still don't know why or how we were able to make this deal for the car since Mr. Read didn't even know us. We enjoyed that car very much until I returned from my year in Southeast Asia. I had forgotten about the tender mercies which were extended to us during this event. I hope you will take time to watch the video. You will enjoy it, I'm sure."


Con Mucho Amor, 
Los Merrill in Madrid



We remember the General Conference address ('An High Priest of Good Things to Come’, Ensign, Nov 1999, 36) when Elder Holland first told this story and how it touched our hearts and inspired us then. And now, with this video, the spiritual impact continues, to bless, to encourage, to inspire, to calm and to give hope. Such an amazing, wonderful testimony by an eye witness of the Lord and His goodness!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Seniors and Roses





Why "SENIORS and ROSES", you ask??    Here's the explanation:  All of these roses are from this Season's first blooms - and all from various grades of rose bushes that have finally reached maturity in their growth.  In previous years, the colors and shapes have been beautiful, but never before have our rose bushes produced such gigantic blooms! It's as if the ROSE bushes have endured their childhood and teenage years (ie, years of cold, snowy, frozen, and icy winters mixed in with years of draught and extreme heat), and then coasted through their adult years ( years of changing seasons and irregular temperature and humidity conditions) to arrive at this year, 2010: the year which defines their Seniority and Senior Status in the garden.  And as SENIORS, don't you agree that these ROSE bushes have produced some of the most beautiful blooms that you have ever seen?  As SENIORS, these ROSES show how they've learned their lessons well to pursue excellence in their blooming.

In ECCLESIASTES chapter 3 verse 11, we find that that the footnotes help us to read this verse as follows:   
"11 He hath made every thing beautiful in His time: also He hath set the eternal in their heart without which man cannot find out the work that God hath done."
Having a childlike attitude can help us to be more willing to submit to all that proving ourselves here on earth requires; but, having a mature attitude swells the eternal things of God within our heart, and opens our perspective to look for the Divine and the Beautiful in all of God's Handiwork.


Indeed, we are blessed that God has given us Beauty in our Seasons of Life!
 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.









Years ago, Great Papa survived a severe bout with pancreatitis that should have taken his life.  We know that he was blessed through Priesthood blessings for the surgeons to perform experimental (last ditch effort) surgery which bought him some time to allow some healing to take place in his damaged pancreas.  His recovery took several months in the hospital and was labeled a miracle by all his medical support team!  A few of the Doctors made a thorough investigation into his background and lifestyle, to determine if there was something there that contributed to him being able to survive his critical pancreatitis attack that tried to shut down his body.  After, learning that he had never smoked, never drank, or lived in anyway that was destructive to his body - (because of his faithful adherence to the Word of Wisdom) - they pressed to find some other factor that contributed to his survival.  At last, the doctors concluded that Great Papa's life-long daily habit of drinking Chocolate Ovaltine had fortified his body and given his body that "little extra-edge" of health to have endured all of the trials associated with the pancreatitis.


Here's Great Papa (and Great) preparing their Chocolate Ovaltine in "to go" bottles for a breakfast excursion to McDonald's.  Tables are a premium there, because of the many other Seniors who are also venturing out for a morning breakfast outing!

The Ovaltine is ready to go and stays cold in the cooler so it's ready to drink.  There's something to be said about the simple joys of life, about appreciating the little things, and finding the good, therein.


 

There's something to be said about finding joy in a beautiful rose.


 
There's something to be said about being in awe of God's handiwork.



Our INSPIRATIONAL FAMILY FOCUS is by Sister Kathleen H Hughes, in commenting on "
Lessons from the Old Testament: Coming of Age": 
 "It requires spiritual sensitivity and maturity to look outside oneself ...—it is a conscious and courageous decision [we] make each week to serve and bless others’ lives.   It’s rare for a person to be in as dangerous or dramatic a situation as Esther’s, but each of us daily has the privilege of influencing someone, of deciding to show our Heavenly Father that we understand and are grateful for His plan for us and that we accept and are committed to live by the covenants we have made with Him. Like Esther, who was asked by Mordecai, “Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” we have come to the kingdom for this time, and we need faith, testimony, and courage to live up to the promises made to us by the Father. "





Friday, June 11, 2010

COME RUNNING!

While searching the net for stories about our Ancestors, I came across this story about our 3rd Great GrandParents:  James and Drusilla Dorris Hendricks.  It's a story that I know well,
but to have it retold by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a treat! - Even a blessing with significant importance for us, their descendants!


Elder Holland's telling of the story was published as the Special Witness of Christ feature for the FRIEND and titled   “Come Running”

"Amidst the terrible hostilities in Missouri that would put the Prophet in Liberty Jail and see thousands of Latter-day Saints driven from their homes, Sister Drusilla Hendricks and her invalid husband, James, … arrived with their children at a hastily shaped dugout in Quincy, Illinois, to live out the spring of that … year [of great suffering].



Within two weeks the Hendrickses were on the verge of starvation, having only one spoonful of sugar and a saucerful of cornmeal remaining in their possession. In the great tradition of LDS women, Drusilla made mush out of it for James and the children, thus stretching its contents as far as she could make it go. When that small offering was [eaten by them], she washed everything, cleaned their little dugout as thoroughly as she could, and quietly waited to die.


Not long thereafter the sound of a wagon brought Drusilla to her feet. It was their neighbor Reuben Allred. He said he had a feeling they were out of food, so on his way into town he’d had a sack of grain ground into meal for them.


Shortly thereafter Alexander Williams arrived with two bushels of meal on his shoulder. He told Drusilla that he’d been extremely busy but the Spirit had whispered to him that “Brother Hendricks’ family is suffering, so I dropped everything and came [running].”


May God, who has blessed all of us so abundantly, bless us to hear the whispering of the Holy Spirit when any neighbor anywhere “is suffering,” and to “drop everything and come running.”   (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Special Witness: ‘Come Running’,” Friend, Nov 2002, 7)    
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Thursday, June 10, 2010

Courageously Trusting the Lord’s Promises and His Timing

We were deeply touched by the comments on our 'Agency or Inspiration' post from our sweet niece and wanted to follow-up with some of the treasures in Pres. Uchtdorf's talk that he gave in the Priesthood Session of our recent General Conference.  We, too, found Pres. Uchtdorf’s message to be most wonderful and inspiring! And, FULL of ‘quotable quotes’ that entered our hearts with a new understanding and filled us with a vision of hope!


“Without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace.”

“Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!”

“As the Lord is patient with us, let us be patient with those we serve. Understand that they, like us, are imperfect. They, like us, make mistakes. They, like us, want others to give them the benefit of the doubt. Never give up on anyone. And that includes not giving up on yourself.”

“Every one of us is called to wait in our own way. We wait for answers to prayers. We wait for things which at the time may appear so right and so good to us that we can’t possibly imagine why Heavenly Father would delay the answer… Eventually I learned that God’s promises are not always fulfilled as quickly as or in the way we might hope; they come according to His timing and in His ways.”

“Brigham Young…would pray to the Lord, “Give me patience to wait until I can understand it for myself.””

“In the Lord’s plan, our understanding comes “line upon line, precept upon precept.” In short, knowledge and understanding come at the price of patience.”

“Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness.” 

“Patience is a godly attribute that can heal souls, unlock treasures of knowledge and understanding, and transform ordinary men and women into saints and angels. Patience is truly a fruit of the Spirit.”

“Patience means staying with something until the end. It means delaying immediate gratification for future blessings. It means reining in anger and holding back the unkind word. It means resisting evil, even when it appears to be making others rich.”

“Patience means accepting that which cannot be changed and facing it with courage, grace, and faith. It means being “willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father.” Ultimately, patience means being “firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord” every hour of every day, even when it is hard to do so. In the words of John the Revelator, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and…faith [in] Jesus.””


“In your patience you win mastery of your souls. Patience means to abide in faith, knowing that sometimes it is in the waiting rather than in the receiving that we grow the most.”

“The lessons we learn from patience will cultivate our character, lift our lives, and heighten our happiness.” 

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT?

Wouldn't you know that this month's First Presidency Message from Pres. Monson would include the following:      "To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility."   
  Knowing these words were sent from Heaven for us, we continue with Pres. Monson's declaration: " "You ask, “How might we achieve these goals?” I answer, “By gaining a true perspective of who we really are!” We are sons and daughters of a living God, in whose image we have been created. Think of that: created in the image of God. We cannot sincerely hold this conviction without experiencing a profound new sense of strength and power. "

Guess we all need to carry around an 'I Am A Child of God' scripture box:




mount it on heavy paper. Cut around the solid black line. Fold on the dotted lines to make a box. Glue the end flaps. Fold the top end flap to close the box, but don't glue it shut. Draw or glue a picture of yourself inside the blank frame. Read the scripture reference on each side of the box.




Cut out the scripture reference strips, and place them in the box. Each day choose a reference, and mark it in your scriptures. The scriptures will remind you who you are. Share the box during family home evening.



I am a child of God (see Psalm 82:6; D&C 76:24).



I was created in the image of God (see Moses 2:27).



Heavenly Father blessed me with a physical body. My body is a temple (see 1 Corinthians 3:16–17).



Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to help me return to Him (see D&C 49:5).



Heavenly Father gave me an earthly family to help me and to guide me (see



D&C 68:25–28).



Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want me to be happy (see 2 Nephi 2:25).



Heavenly Father loves me and gives me certain talents (see D&C 46:11).



Heavenly Father gave me the scriptures so I can learn about Him (see D&C 33:16).



Heavenly Father listens to and answers my prayers (see D&C 112:10).



I can return to live with Heavenly Father someday (see D&C 78:7).



Because of His love for me, Heavenly Father—through Jesus Christ—created this beautiful world for me (see D&C 14:9).



I can show my love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by keeping the commandments (see John 14:15).



Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help me obey the commandments (see 1 Nephi 3:7).



I am trying to remember and follow Jesus Christ so I can live with Him someday (see John 14:3).



I lived in heaven with Heavenly Father (see D&C 93:29).



I am a child of God; my Heavenly Father loves me (see Psalm 82:6).



Heavenly Father has given me an earthly family (see D&C 68:25–28).



I live in a beautiful world created for me (see D&C 14:9).



Heavenly Father listens to and answers my prayers (see D&C 112:10).



Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to help me (see John 3:16).





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AGENCY or INSPIRATION

While pondering our situation (ie, loss of financial security and means of any retirement from selling our business of 35 years to a serial-con artist skilled in the art of fraud) and feeling discouraged at the seeming lack of blessings with Errol’s current employment (ie, no sales = no commision = no income), the Spirit whispered:

“What’s the greatest blessing that has ever come into your life?”

Immediately, my heart melted with the imprinted memory of kneeling in the Salt Lake Temple at the altar with my best friend and eternal companion. 

It’s interesting how the Lord will point out the blessings of most significance when we are pondering the absence of others.

Endowed with spiritual wisdom, we are able to see things as they really are as we view our circumstances through the eye of faith.

We are able to recognize the hand of the Lord in blessing us with those tender mercies, those spiritual moments, those experiences that witness He is mindful of us.

Being asked to substitute for 3 Gospel Doctrine classes over a 6 week period was one of those blessings. Nevermind, the nervous anxiety from standing in front of others. The resultant outpouring of the Spirit from the extra prayers, scripture reading, and Temple attendance needed to prepare to teach have provided other, added-upon blessings from experiences that would not have happened had it not been for this extra call to serve.

Knowing how the Lord works with us personally, we also knew that these great experiences/spiritual blessings were to prepare us for some other awful trial that we would never choose for ourselves., (ie, loss of employment = loss of income = loss of medical insurance = maybe loss of more things).

Nothing has happened yet.

We just know that with us, we are always given an abundance of spiritual blessings to assure us of God’s love for us, so that we can hold on to that knowledge when the unexpected experience of doom comes upon us.

So, we wait. (And continue to choose to serve, using our AGENCY to so.)

We hope you enjoyed the three power-point presentations we used with our Old Testament lessons, (ie, 19 OT The Reign of the Judges; 21 OT God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him; 23 OT The Lord Be Between Thee and Me.) Having never worked in power-point previously, we felt a measure of aid from loving arms encircled about, bringing us much needed INSPIRATION in our moment of need.

Our FAMILY INSPIRATIONAL FOCUS is by Elder Bruce R. McConkie,
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" There isn’t anything in this world, no truth that we can conceive of, to compare with the truth that the work we’re engaged in is true, that the Lord’s hand is here."
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