April 1, 2012

When mother passed away I was given her old Book of Mormon from which she studied each night. I kept it for several years before deciding that it would be the one I would use for scripture study each night and have now done so for several years as well. I have always liked the two things that she has taped into the front inside cover of the book. It is her testimony and a couple of quotes from the prophets about why we should read the book and a warning if we do not. I must admit the for many years I did not read the Book of Mormon as I should have but ever since I was a home teacher to a fellow who was trying to read it 100 times I too decided that I would read it every day. I am not going for the 100 times goal yet I have probably read it now over 30 times at least, I really do not know for sure since I haven't tracked that. I have found it to be very fun as I am now much more able to tell who is writing it and can feel the power of the prophets testimonies that are given throughout the entire book. I often though am thankful it is not a movie since I do  not think I could stand the horror of some of the wars and what the people did to their enemies during those wars. There are movies that I have seen that give me a little of the feeling what it might have been like but nothing that can remotely compare to the destruction of the Nephites and final battles of the Jaredites. I do enjoy the movies however that the church has been producing that show the coming of the Savior to the America's for that to me is the most significant part of that history. I wonder how it must have felt to be there when he came. First of all knowing that only the more righteous were permitted to remain for that event and second that they were able to hear him speak to His Father as he spoke things that were unable to be recorded in this book due to their sacred nature. I can only imagine a very small portion of how that had to have felt knowing that it effected life here for over 300 years and took several generations before Satan could again get hold of the hearts of men again and finally destroy a nation that had lived in perfect peace because of the Savior's love that they had felt. No wonder Satan will be bound when we, if we live worthy of it, can be with Christ and Father in Heaven for eternity. I look forward to that time and the blessings which will come from it. However I also enjoy the time now that I have to spend here with each of you my children and grandchildren because I feel the love of both of them as I get to watch you grow. I now want to admonish all of you to learn to love each other and to feel what it must have been like when the Savior was here. During the Priesthood session of conference last night I got the distinct impression to share my mother's testimony with each of you as you read this blog and let you know how much she and my father loved the gospel and gave that same love to me. I have made mistakes through my life just as each of us do but I know I have felt the love of my Savior many times as I have worked to overcome those mistakes and repent of them. I have also enjoyed being able to go to the temple now weekly for several months and to do work for some of Marie's ancestors. There is still a lot to be done and I will be calling for help as we take the names for sealing. Thank you Brittany for spending the time to see where each of those person's work has been completed so I could continue with it. It has been special knowing that I have been doing work for some of you direct ancestors instead of just picking up a name as I would go to a session. 

I want each of you to know that I know this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ and that He and My Heavenly Father not only live but love me and each of you. I can only know a portion of what it feels like to love as they love us because of the love that I have for each of you. I know the church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and did see them in person as well as many of the other ancient prophets as he was called to establish the truth on the earth once more. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true book and wish so much to be able to read the sealed portion but then realize that I am not yet ready for that. I know the Priesthood has been restored to the earth and I know that I have not exercised it enough throughout my life and thus admonish each of you that now hold it as well to use it to the fullest degree that you can. I know it is the power of God but do not yet fully understand how great that power really is in our lives. I know as I watch the story of the creation in the temple that that power is far greater than I can comprehend but I do know it is real and that our Heavenly Father really loves us. I can only begin to understand how it will be to have all that the Father hath given to us and to be as families through the eternities (another thing that is hard to comprehend as well.) This is the true gospel and the Lord has given me many blessings throughout my life for which I am so grateful. I feel Their great love for me each day I live and am so thankful to Them for that love. I can only look at the wonder of nature and feel it even more as I think of what he has created for us. As I look into the faces of each of your children, and watch them learning, I feel so much His love again that He has for all of us. As I watch the blessings that each of you are receiving in your lives I again feel that Love for each of us. So as your earthly father, who is full of weakness, I want you to know that I truly love each of you and want you to grasp  hold of the gospel and try to live it as best as you can. It is true, God does love all of us with a love we cannot yet understand but is real none the less. Christ is our eldest bother and loves us as well with that same love as the Father because he suffered for each of us and our mistakes and has served us far greater than we can comprehend during this life. Be true to the Gospel and to each other as brothers and sisters and parents and children. I love each of you and leave my testimony again with you in the name of my beloved brother, your beloved brother, Jesus Christ. Amen