Another Wonderful Sunday

It seems I live for Sundays these days.  They are a great way to recharge my battery for the next week.  This Sunday was no exception.

We woke up about the usual time, but didn't need to get to church until an hour later because of the Brigham City Temple dedication.  We had debated about going to the early (9:00 am) session, but decided that with our home situation this week it would probably be easier to get ready for the 12:00 session.  And that was a good choice because it gave us the chance to watch one of our favorite Sunday shows, besides The Spoken Word.

We enjoy watching MormonTimes, which comes on at 10:00 right after The Spoken Word.  It is hosted by Michelle King and focuses on things that are important to Mormons.  Today she featured an author and her book.  I wish I could remember the author and the title of the book, but I am sure you can find it on the MormonTimes facebook page.  The book is about making your temple experiences even better.  The author started out talking about how a child knows that when you get cut, you wash your cut and put healing ointment on it, then wrap it in a clean covering so it can heal.  She likened this to the temple.  We are all hurt/broke/cut because we are human.  We go to the temple to wash our cuts, we have ointment put on to help us heal, then we are wrapped in a clean covering as we are healed.  These ordinances (baptism, washing and anointings, covenant making) all prepare us for the healing of the atonement. This got me thinking of the process in a totally different way.

Then she talked about the Story of the Good Samaritan.  We walk through life going lower because of sin, like the man who "went down from Jerusalem to Jericho" where he feel among thieves.  We are mortal and fall among temptations.  The Samaritan came to him, just as Christ has come to us.  He washed the man's wounds, and poured oil on him, and placed him on his own donkey (carried him), took him to an inn and took care of him.  He paid the price for the keeping of the man (atonement) and said the when he returns he will repay the inn keeper for whatever else he spends as he helps the man.  Christ will give us our reward if we help the sick and lowly.  He has already paid the price, but will also give us a reward.  He will carry us to the place of healing.  He will pour oil on our wounds. And help us to be healed, blessing others for helping us.

That story really touched my heart and helps me see things in a newer, deeper way.  I am thankful for that lesson.  Follow the link above to hear the entire interview with the author.  She has so many insights and my words do not give it justice.  I am looking forward to reading the book myself.....(hint to my children :)

At the temple dedication  it was stated that the lessons we learn in the temple are much like the message of mortality:  the creation, the fall, and the atonement.  Brother Nelson said this is the 14th temple in Utah, and the 139th in the world.  It brought to my memory when I was in high school seminary and we were having a Seminary Bowl contest.  One of the questions was: How many temples are there in the world today?  Brother Law said the answer was 12, but I challenged him.  I said there were at least 14, not remembering if it was 14 or 15.  We looked it up, not an easy feat because of no internet back in those olden days.  It turned out I was right because Ogden and Provo had been dedicated and they were Number 14 and 15.  Brother Law's Seminary Bowl answers were now out-dated.  Back in 1973-74 there were 15 temples in the world.  Today there are 14 in Utah only.  What a big change.  Still waiting and praying that someday our valley will have a temple, making it easier for all of us to get to a temple without a 2 hour drive over a mountain pass, which can be dangerous during the winter.

Another point that Brother Nelson spoke about was the temples prior to Christ's time on earth, and the temple during Christ's time.  During Christ's first cleansing of the temple, he called the temple "My Father's House."(John 2:16)   During the second cleansing of the temple he called the temple "My House" (Luke 19:46), and later He called it "Your House".(Luke 13:35)  It was then the people were told they would see him until later.

There were several other speakers during the dedication that raised points that I want to study in the next few weeks.  I hope I can get some time to research out their points.

In all, I learned a lot today and am looking forward to further scripture study.

This week has been very difficult for my husband and I as we have suffered while our bathroom is being gutted and repaired.  We have learned to appreciate our pioneer ancestors and the trials they went through without the facilities we so much take for granted.  We are thankful for the kind people who have offered their homes to us, the kind words of concern, and the offers of help.  We are just looking forward to having our home put back together again.

As for health, Garth is doing fine, but it is a slow process.  He is able to walk about 1-2 miles every day, but then it takes a long time to recover from the work-out.  He is helping me out in school by coming in and helping during the end of our reading hour and all of the math.  I really appreciate his help.

My legs are not getting any better. It is still unknown why the pain is so terrible.  I can stand on my leg for a long time, but stepping OFF the leg just brings me to tears.  I drag my leg along for several steps until the pain finally goes away.  My arm is going fine, but I can see that when the colder weather comes it will be stiffer and more painful to straighten out.  But in all, I guess I am doing fine.

We are both very thankful for all the blessings we do have, and pray for each of our family members to receive the blessings they desire at this time.  We don't always know the trials each of them is facing, but we pray for them all just the same.

I know that the Lord is in control and we receive the blessings He has in store for us if we are striving to do as He would have us do.  Our trial may be that we listen to His answers, to His directions, as He speaks to us.  That we accept that His will be done, and learn how to accept that in our own lives.  I know there are many blessings I would like but for some reasons right now I am being asked to wait for them.  It is difficult and trying sometimes,, but I am willing to wait because I know the Lord knows me and knows what is best for me.  Sometimes it is easy to doubt, but today, I know it is true.  I am writing this today so that in those days when I doubt I can read this and remember.

Another Great Sunday

For the first time in a long time I was tempted to not go to church today because my legs were swollen and my lungs were whistling.  But I figured if I started staying home every time that happened I would be missing a lot of Sundays and I don't see the need of doing that.  I am very thankful that I went because my spirit was recharged.

We have been blessed to have Greg Huntington attending our ward the last few weeks.  His parents are members of our ward, Mack and Julie Huntington.  Greg lives on the First Ward but comes here with his parents.  Greg has been paralyzed for the past 8 years.  He can move his arms a bit, and use his clinched fists, but that is about all the motion he has.  But he has quite a story to tell.  And that is what we all heard today in testimony meeting.

The Huntingtons have gone through a lot of experiences that we all hope and pray we never have to experience.  Mack was never active when his children were young.  In fact, Greg stated that his dad was full of the spirit, but it was the kind that came from a bottle.  Greg would rather be with his dad than with his mother in church, so he was not active either.  Julie and the girls did attend church regularly.  Their daughter, Amy, is my daughter Tammy's age.  She got diabetes when she was 18 months old.  When they were in sixth grade, Amy passed away from complications with the diabetes.  It was a very difficult time for the family.  Mack went more to the bottle than to his family.  Greg noticed this and went right along following his dad's example.

Greg had so many automobile accidents that no one could count them all, but through them all he was somehow blessed to stay alive.  One 4-wheeler accident resulted in a injury to his eye.  After that accident he was not able to move his eye to the left any further than the center.  He always had double vision and had to turn his head to look at you.  He had seven surgeries on that eye and they were not able to correct his movement.

According to Greg, as time passed his dad started taking gymnastics...at least he did a 180 degree flip and changed his life around.  Garth and I were able to be to the temple the day Mack and Julie were sealed in the temple, with Amy being sealed to them, along with Jan, Kyle, and MacKell, but no Greg.  It was hard on Julie, but she had most of her family there with her and always prayed that Greg would be able to be sealed to them as well.

Time passed for the family and more problems for Greg.  He suffered terrible headaches which resulted in the lost of hearing in both ears.  He has about 20% hearing in one ear and 50% in the other (I think that is the number)  There were also more car accidents.  And on Memorial Day weekend in 2004 his truck left the road in the canyon and he suffered a broken neck.  He has been in and out of the hospital so many times the past 8 years for so many different reasons.  The last adventure in hospital totally changed his life.

He told us that he was having his stomach operated on.  I know Julie has told me what the problem was, but I can't remember.  I just remember that he was very ill.  While the surgery was going on, he had an experience of seeing 3 men dressed in white coming to him.  He knew two were doctors and they were being instructed by the other one.  He was telling them what they needed to do as they operated on his bad eye.  He said he knew what they were doing and knew that he would be okay.  When he awoke from the stomach surgery he was able to move his eye completely and has total vision in that eye. A true miracle. The tears were flowing from everyone as he told how thankful he was for this experience.

He also said that he had been on pain medication for so long.  (I knew this from Julie, also.)  He said that since that operation he has been able to get completely off the pain medicine and hasn't had a pill for over 3 months now.  That is after the constant use of patches and pill for 8 years, please the years for the terrible headaches that resulted in the loss of hearing.

Greg decided that day that he had to change his life.  He had a difficult time reading the Book of Mormon because he wasn't able to turn the pages of the book, so his dad got him a Kindle Fire and, as Mack said, "He has been on fire ever since."  He has read the Book of Mormon through 3 times, and is still studying and reading.  He has been ordained an Elder and is preparing to go to the temple.  What a glorious day that will be.

Julie is the true meaning of patience.  She has waited for all these years to have her family sealed to her and she has never given up.  She takes care of Greg every day, driving to his house to get him out of bed, get his food for him, get him up out of bed and ready for the day.  Greg drives with the aid of hand-controls so he can drive his truck.  He is in charge of his cows but his dad has to feed them.  Julie and Mack take care of him but still give him his independence.  They are witnessing a true miracle in their lives.  Mack has battled colon cancer but seems to be doing all right right now.

I worked with Julie for about 22 years.  She taught 5th grade at our school.  She was always so ready to help anyone and still is.  She is a true friend and great lady. She is a great example that we should never give up on our children, no matter how far gone they may be.  Prayers and pleading are heard by our Heavenly Father.  Her prayers were answered in a way that took a long time, but Greg was still here and that was a true blessing as well.

It was a great day in church.  I'm glad I went.