CHURCH MEMBER REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

 

 There was an unforeseen storm-related problem here in Baltimore

 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy the Maryland Baltimore Mission elders and sisters have had limited opportunities to be engaged in their normal proselyting activities. Virtually all of the public transportation system was shut down for the past two days, and it wasn't considered prudent for the missionaries to be walking around the city due to fallen debris from  trees and other storm-related damage to buildings.

 

The young elders, ever wanting to be of service to those in need, started calling Church members to see if anyone needed their assistance in cleaning up yards or helping with possible water issues in their basements. Locally, between the Chesapeake Bay plus lots of rivers in this area, there is a lot of water in and around Baltimore City. Amazingly, even though some of our people live at or very near the water's edge, no serious water or wind damage problems were reported that would give the elders an opportunity to help.

 

While these young men were contemplating what else they might be able to do, their telephone rang with a request from a Church member. Thinking that they now finally had a chance to do something to help someone in need, they asked, "What can we do to assist?"

 

"The power is out at our house," the man responded, "and Baltimore Gas & Electric is uncertain how long it will be before the electricity comes back on. We have a pet turtle, and we are worried that he won't survive if it gets too cold in his tank. Could you possibly babysit him until BG&E gets the power problem resolved?"

 

"We're sorry," the elders responded, "but it is against mission rules for us to have pets in our apartment."

MANY STORMS ARE RAGING IN THE LIVES OF MEN

Storm damaged pier at Ocean City, Maryland

 

Even though it is late in the hurricane season, there is no denying that Hurricane Sandy, which has been nicknamed "Frankenstorm" because of its close proximity to Halloween, is a massive storm that could have a very dramatic impact on the lives of millions of people in coming days. The attitude and efforts of individuals and families regarding how they handle their preparations for this forecasted adverse weather varies greatly.

 

While some folks merely view all of this negative publicity and broad warnings of dire weather-related consequences as an inconvenience in their busy schedules, others are seriously involved in doing whatever they can to minimize the effects of the storm as it pertains to their personal safety and the protection of their property.

 

Just as there are physical storms that affect all of us at one time or another in this world such as hurricanes and other difficult weather conditions that can have devastating effect upon life and material possessions, so also there are storms in life that will impact us individually or as families, sometimes with great intensity and all consuming refiner's fire.

 

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve says that like the intense fire that transforms iron into steel, as we remain faithful during the fiery trial of our faith, we are spiritually refined and strengthened.

 

The gift of faith is a priceless spiritual endowment. Our faith is centered in God, our Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. The Lord confirms that the divine source of our strength and our bright future beyond this life and the grave is grounded in the knowledge of our true relationship with Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son:

 

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)

 

Elder Anderson  continues, "These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of God and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him. These trials are often camouflaged, making them difficult to identify. They take root in our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, our sensitivities, or in those things that matter most to us. A real but manageable test for one can be a fiery trial for another.

 

"How do you remain 'steadfast and immovable' during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others."

 

There are times when God removes the storm from our path, but more often He strengthens us to be able to endure the trials associated with those personal tempests. If Heavenly Father could not spare His Son from the afflictions of mortality that allowed Him to gain the ultimate victory over sin and death, then why should we believe that we can be spared those things we need to endure that allow us to grow and become more like the Savior?

 

Master, the Tempest is Raging

Text: Mary Ann Baker (1874)

 

Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high!

The sky is o'er-shadowed with blackness. No shelter or help is nigh.

Carest thou not that we perish? How canst thou lie asleep

When each moment so madly is threat'ning a grave in the angry deep?

 

Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today.

The depths of my sad heart are troubled. Oh, waken and save, I pray!

Torrents of sin and of anguish sweep o'er my sinking soul,

And I perish! I perish! dear Master. Oh, hasten and take control!

 

The winds and the waves shall obey they will: Peace, be still, peace, be still.

Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea or demons or men of whatever it be,

No waters can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies.

They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, be still; peace, be still.

They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, peace, be still.

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO WILL HELP ME?

 When we are in trouble, help often comes from an unseen source

 

The story is told about a hapless fellow who found himself dangling precariously off the edge of a cliff. Unable to escape this difficult predicament by himself, he desperately called out for assistance. "Help! Help! Is there anyone out there who will help me?"

Suddenly, he heard an unseen voice who calmly said, "Let go, and I will save you."

 

Looking around but seeing no one, he wondered whether his mind was playing tricks on him.

Again, the voice repeated the simple instruction:  "Just let go, and I will save you."

 

Casting his eyes downward to the rocks below, the man cried out again, "Is there anyone else who will help me?" 

_________________________

Faith is defined in the scriptures by both the Apostle Paul and Alma the Prophet as having a desire to believe those things that are true and yet unseen. Sadly, in this unbelieving materialistic world, the only thing that many people believe is what they can see, touch, and feel. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Lindsay and I have come to understand that "believing is seeing." In real life situations involving trials and trouble, having faith in Jesus Christ  precedes the miracles that come into the lives of those of God's children who truly believe.

One of the defining characteristics of the Lord's Church is how we handle the challenges facing families and individuals who need financial assistance together with basic needs such as food and other commodities. Unlike government-sponsored welfare programs that tend to become long term systems of entitlement benefits, the Church emphasizes self-reliance through provident living. We do our best to help those in need  by giving them a hand up rather than a hand out. The Church never wants to diminish a person's self-esteem, so much of the help provided comes in the form of instruction and counsel from well-qualified members who can assist with budget planning, training, and words of encouragement.

Latter-day Saints believe in being prepared and self-reliant. We believe in preparing educationally for employment, in preparing financially for a rainy day, and in preparing temporally for natural disasters or other challenges. Most important, we believe in preparing spiritually for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and for living with our Father in Heaven again. This approach to preparedness is called provident living.

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve provides this wise counsel:  “All of us are responsible to provide for ourselves and our families in both temporal and spiritual ways. To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies.”

QUIANA JONES AT THE WASHINGTON DC TEMPLE

 

Roland Huebner, Quiana Jones, & Pat Huebner outside the DC Temple

 

Today was a beautiful October day with the trees proudly showing off their brightly colored leaves in the nearby woods surrounding the Washington DC Temple in Kensington, Maryland. The distinctive smell of fall was in the air, and the weather was picture perfect for anyone who had reason to be outside. Being outside and having a camera as well, I took a number of pictures!

For full time missionaries there is an occasional day of service now and again that stands out as being very special, and today was one of those memorable times to be remembered. For the past few months Sister Lindsay and I have been teaching a series of temple preparation class lessons to Sister Quiana Jones who is a member of the Chesapeake Ward in order to prepare her to go to the House of the Lord for the first time.

Sister Jones' life has been closely entwined with those of our good Church friends, Roland and Pat Huebner since she was a young teenager here in Baltimore about fifteen years ago. The Huebners consider Quiana to be almost like another daughter in their family, having taught her the principles and ordinances of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as she matured into the wonderful adult woman that she is today. Like so many of us, Quiana is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has a vibrant testimony of the truthfulness of the Savior's mission as the Redeemer of mankind. Sister Jones is the third individual we have been able to take to the temple for the first time during our 14 months of missionary service in Baltimore.

So why is it important for Church members to prepare to go to the temple?

 

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve tells us "A temple differs from other houses of worship. Unlike chapels, the temple is closed on the Sabbath so that people can attend church and be with their families on that hallowed day. Temples are open for sacred work on other days of the week. A temple is literally the house of the Lord, reserved for ordinances of eternal significance. Those ordinances include baptisms, marriages, endowments, and sealings.

 

"Each temple is symbolic of our faith in God and an evidence of our faith in life after death. The temple is the object of every activity, every lesson, every progressive step in the Church. All of our efforts in proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead lead to the holy temple. Ordinances of the temple are absolutely crucial. We cannot return to God’s glory without them."

 

The ordinances performed in the temple are sacred. Each temple ordinance is not just a ritual to go through, it is an act of solemn promising between Heavenly Father and His children who live here on earth during mortality.

 

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. (Doctrine & Covenants 130:20-21)

THESE MISSIONARIES ARE AN INTERESTING BUNCH

 

 For the most part, missionaries live a simple life without many frills

 

Having raised eight sons and daughters of our own, all of whom have served as full time missionaries for the Church, it is amazing to think that after all of these years, we can still be surprised at some of the things we discover visiting the young elders and sisters in their apartments each month. In some instances we recognize that with their limited available resources, these innovative missionaries are living proof that necessity is still the mother of invention.
 

• If a light switch on the wall flickers on and off, you use duct tape to keep it in the "on" position and then add an extension cord in the wall outlet with an on/off switch
   
• If a piece of furniture in the apartment is damaged, you hold it together with duct tape
 
• When a venetian blind has a broken slat, duct tape makes it appear to be right again

Look carefully at the picture above, and it is quite apparent that one bed is taller than the other. Due to missionary transfers, sometimes a two bedroom apartment for four elders may only have two young men in it for a while. When this happens, the remaining missionaries typically will take the mattresses from the unused bedroom and stack them on their own beds. We assume that the elder who sleeps in the high bed must take a flying leap to get on top of all of those mattresses at night.

 

Not all of the places where our missionaries live are modern garden-style apartments. Indeed, in the inner city of Baltimore, we have four elders who live in an older building that was a downtown hotel some years ago. With its 14-foot ceilings and 10-foot tall windows, there are certain challenges in trying to make this place feel like "home" after a long day out and about the city. Last month when we entered this apartment we found the couch turned upside down and the cushions missing. Why? The missionary in charge decided that the couch cushions were needed in the bedroom where he stuffed them in those tall windows to block out the street lights at night to help the elders sleep better. The simple explanation for why the couch was upside down was to ensure that the missionaries would not spend too much time sitting down when they had other work to do.

 

The elders frequently provide service to Church members who are moving from one place to another by helping them load and unload the truck and by doing whatever they can to set-up beds, carry furniture and boxes. As a result, it is not uncommon for the people they help to offer the missionaries surplus items that the family no longer needs. We have found everything from keyboards to chairs, tables, and sofas in apartments following the "good turns" performed in helping others.

 

There are lots of other strange and unusual things that have been found in the apartments including bowling balls, a skateboard, fireworks, 33 rpm vinyl records, a rubber snake, and even a sizable collection of automobile hubcaps that covered an entire wall of a room. When elders complete their missions and go home or are transferred to another proselyting area, they frequently leave items of clothing behind. Sister missionaries (especially from California) almost always buy a heavy coat to use here in Maryland during the winter months; but then, they give it to the mission for another sister rather than carry the garment home where it might never be worn again.

LIFE IS A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS

 

 

So tell me friend, can you see what I see?

 

Thanks to modern digital technology, there are more pictures being taken in the world today than ever before, but how those images are displayed and used are much different than was ever possible in previous generations. When I was a boy growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, I first developed a great desire to take photographs of the people, places, and events that represented my world. Our family's finances were such, however, that having a camera of my own was out of the question until I was in high school; and even then, the camera that I could afford then was only a "box" camera with very limited capability to take sharp quality images.

 

Throughout the decades when we were raising our large family, I owned a number of cameras, each successive one a bit better and more technically complex than its predecessor. With these camera, I took thousands of pictures of our children and the places we visited. It wasn't until I was within a few years of my retirement before I was finally able to purchase much better photography equipment.

 

When taking landscape pictures or photographs of places, I try to capture the feeling of actually being there, so anyone looking at the image can see through the lens of my camera what I have seen with my eyes. On those occasions when I have been successful, a few people have told me that they can picture themselves actually being in the photograph. Just like Sister Lindsay and me, my camera is also serving a mission. It goes with me just about everywhere recording images of missionaries and the places where we serve in the Maryland Baltimore Mission.

Who else might be taking pictures of what we are doing on earth and carefully storing them for future review? Because there is no place on earth where we might ever be that isn't known to Our Heavenly Father and knowing that our lives are an open book to our Creator, it's worth considering that everything that we have ever thought, said, or done is being recorded in Heaven as a complete series of photographs representing our full mortal experience from our birth until our death. That thought having been expressed, is there anyone among us who would not like to have some of those pictures removed because what is displayed  depicts our sins and other shortcomings.

The Plan of Salvation authored by God the Father before the creation of this earth and presented to all of His spirit sons and daughters in the Great Council in Heaven before Satan's rebellion provided for a Savior, because Heavenly Father knew that man in his natural state is an enemy to God. The Savior, even Jesus Christ, is the Redeemer of the World; and it is through His atoning sacrifice that our sins will not only be FORGIVEN . . . we are promised that they will also be FORGOTTEN!

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:16-17)

 

If our sins and iniquities are no longer remembered by the Lord, then those images that show us in the poorest light when we have either done the wrong thing or failed to do the right thing, the sins of commission or omission, will be forever removed. Picture yourself in the Kingdom of God. How great shall be our joy to know that we have been forgiven and allowed to enter into the presence of the Lord.

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

 

Sister Lindsay and I visited two people in hospice care facilities today. One is a short term facility occupying a portion of one floor in a large city hospital while the other is a separate, longer term care center located in the country with beautiful landscaped grounds surrounding the one-story building. 80% of all hospice care, however, is provided in the patient's home and in nursing homes as was the case last year when hospice was called into the home of my high school friend during the final weeks of her terminal illness.

 

Hospice is not a place but a special concept of care designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families when a life-limiting illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments. Hospice care neither prolongs life nor hastens death. The goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of a patent's last days by offering comfort and dignity with a  special emphasis on controlling a patient's pain and discomfort.

 

The word "hospice" stems from the Latin word "hospitium" meaning guesthouse. It was originally used to describe a place of shelter for weary and sick travelers returning from religious pilgrimages. During the 1960's, Dr. Cicely Saunders, a British physician, began the modern hospice movement by establishing St. Christopher's Hospice near London. St. Christopher's organized a team approach to professional care giving, and was the first program to use modern pain management techniques to compassionately care for the dying. The first hospice in the United States was established in New Haven, Connecticut in 1974. Today there are more than 4,700 hospice programs in the United States.

 

I had the opportunity to work closely with the hospice nurse for several days when my high school classmate was close to the end of her mortal journey. As a result, I gained a deep respect for the deep personal commitment of hospice caregivers who try to ease the burden and suffering of the patients in their care while addressing the mental and emotional needs of other family members in difficult times of transition.

 

When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, He told His followers: 

 

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

 

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, has taught that when our hearts are filled with the love of God, something good and pure happens to us. We become kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving. Because we all depend on the mercy of God, how can we deny to others any measure of the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves? It has been my experience that hospice workers and volunteers offer that kind of mercy to those whom they serve.

 

Standing quietly by the beside of someone you love who is dying has a humbling effect upon you. And when you know that this individual has lived a good life, loved the Lord with a sincere heart, and sought in his or her way to serve others, you can actually discern a sense of peace and love present in the room itself whether it is a hospice care facility or in that person's own home.

 

It is comforting to know that we are never truly alone while we are here on earth. Our Heavenly Father has sent us here to fulfill the purpose for which we have been created, but He is always mindful of our desires, needs, and concerns. Much of the time we become the physical hands and hearts that God employs to lift up the weary and down-trodden, to nurse the sick, and to comfort others in times of trial and sorrow.

 

President Monson reminds us of our sacred responsibility to ever watch over one another, assisting in times of need. "Let us not be critical and judgmental," he says, "but let us be tolerant, ever emulating the Savior’s example of loving-kindness. In that vein, may we willingly serve one another. May we pray for the inspiration to know of the needs of those around us, and then may we go forward and provide assistance."

CHURCH LOWERS AGE FOR MISSIONARY SERVICE

Young missionary elders at October transfer meeting

 

At the General Conference of the Church this past weekend, President Thomas S. Monson announced a significant change pertaining to the age when young men and women may begin their full time missionary service. "I am pleased to announce that effective immediately all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19. I am not suggesting that all young men will—or should—serve at this earlier age. Rather, based on individual circumstances as well as upon a determination by priesthood leaders, this option is now available."
 

As members of the Church listened and pondered the impact of his announcement, the prophet continued, "As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young men may begin their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the age at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21."

 

We received a message from one of our daughters, which included a note from a young sister missionary who is currently at the Church's Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah:  "I wish everybody could have been in the MTC when that announcement was made . . . I'm not sure I have ever felt like I was part of a divinely historic moment before, but on Saturday, I did. When President Monson announced that young men could serve at 18, the room exploded with the spirit and we all gasped and had giant grins on our faces.

 

"Then, as soon as he said they had thought about the sisters as well, it got absolutely silent. It was amazing. NO ONE expected the age requirement for sisters to drop so drastically. But when they said 19 years old, we all stood and cheered. And I don't mean all of us sisters, I mean all 2500 missionaries in the Missionary Training Center."

Lest everyone get carried away in the excitement of the moment, it is essential to remember  that President Monson said that he was not suggesting that all young men (or women) will—or should—serve at this earlier age. Rather, based on individual circumstances as well as upon a determination by priesthood leaders, this option is now available. Having the physical, spiritual, and emotional maturity to handle the rigors of being a full time missionary will most certainly play a major role in determining whether or not individual elders or sisters might begin their missionary service at the younger age.

Our grandson, Jonathan, who is currently serving a full time Spanish-speaking mission in northern Utah was called to serve at age 19 last year shortly before Sister Lindsay and I received our own assignment to serve as senior missionaries in Maryland. His 18-year-old cousin, Spencer, is preparing to serve a mission next year following the completion of his first year of college. We don't expect that his missionary service timetable will be changed by this age modification option.

We also noted that other than asking that more senior couples consider serving full time missions, the Church didn't alter the age when we can serve. SENIOR MISSIONARIES WILL STILL BE JUST AS OLD WHEN THEY ARE CALLED TO SERVE AND OLDER STILL WHEN THEY RETURN HOME FROM THEIR ERRAND FOR THE LORD!

TESTIMONY AND CONVERSION

 

 If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15)

 

During the Sunday afternoon session of the weekend General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve provided meaningful spiritual insight regarding the relationship of our personal testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ to our true conversion.

 

According to Elder Bednar, we typically treat the subjects of testimony and conversion independently and separately; however, we gain precious perspective and greater spiritual conviction when we consider these important subjects together. A testimony is spiritual knowledge gained from God and is a gift received through personal revelation. Testimony is a point of change, but it is not a destination. Any honest seeker of truth can gain a testimony that Jesus is the Christ, because this knowledge is available to all of God's children. To obtain a testimony, one must ask with a sincere heart and to seek with faith in Jesus Christ. Gaining a testimony, however, brings increased personal accountability.

 

True conversion, on the other hand, brings about a real change in a person's life. Heavenly Father desires that all who obtain a testimony of Jesus Christ as the Son of God become converted to Him and His gospel. When we are converted, we become new creatures. Conversion is an offering of self, love, and loyalty. Conversion requires all of our heart and might. For most of us, conversion is an ongoing process. Conversion unto the Lord requires persistence and patience.

When the Savior was with His disciples at the last supper, He told Peter,

. . . Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:31-32)

As full time missionaries, we testify that every one who professes to be a disciple of Christ must act upon his testimony by living the truth that he knows. To be converted, we must desire to become more like the Savior by forsaking our sins and following His teachings and example. A true Christian seeks to live out the days of his mortal life by humbly seeking to emulate the Lord by keeping the commandments and serving his fellowman with simple acts of love and kindness.

 

The essence of a testimony is to know that the gospel is true, while the essence of one's conversion is for us to remain true to the gospel.

COME LISTEN TO A PROPHET'S VOICE

Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah

 

The 182nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will convene in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, 2012. The Conference Center, located across the street to the north of the Salt Lake Temple, was completed in April of 2000. This massive building seats approximately 21,000 in the main auditorium. It is constructed of stone from the same quarry which provided the granite for the Salt Lake Temple.

 

The General Conference of the Church, which is held twice each year in April and October, not only attracts members from around the world to Salt Lake City, but among the 14,441,346 latter-day saints, millions will also participate through satellite broadcast to Church buildings internationally or at home via satellite, television, or Internet.

 

Sister Lindsay and I have had the privilege of attending General Conference several times in Utah; but while we are serving our mission here in Baltimore, Maryland, we will watch the conference sessions in a local Church facility.

 

What does it mean to come listen to a prophet's voice? Among the thirteen Articles of Faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are four (Articles 6 through 9) that reference prophets, the written Word of God, as well as the need and reality of continuous revelation from God to man through living prophets. Ponder this verse of scripture from the Old Testament of the Bible:

 

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7)

 

If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, which He must be or He would cease to be God, then He must continue to speak to the sons and daughters of men today through prophets and apostles as has been the case in earlier dispensations of time. God is no respecter of persons, and surely He loves those of His children who live on the earth today as much as those who have lived in times past.

 

Referencing the Articles of Faith mentioned previously . . .

 

Article 6:  We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

 

Article 7: We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

 

Article 8: We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

 

Article 9: We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

 

Listening to the inspired words of living prophets and apostles during the General Conference of the Church provides all of us with the direction and counsel that Heavenly Father wants us to hear for the next six months, so we can keep our lives in harmony with the Holy Spirit as we prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord.