Believe in Priesthood Power

It is 3 o'clock in the morning and the spirit as the prophets would put it "has constrained me that I should write these things".  At the beginning of this post I don't know why or for whom.  Maybe it is for me but I cannot sleep and the spirit keeps telling me to get up and write this..  This is not a common occurrence in my life but I cannot ignore it.  Ken would be the first to tell you that I can sleep through almost anything.

Since we have been here, it am beginning to realize the real power of the priesthood.  More especially, I am realizing the blessing of having it daily in my home.  As I lay awake thinking about it, realizing how rare it is to have that privilege when surrounded by people who don't have it, I began to think about all the times in my life that it has been manifest.

The first one that came to mind was when Jamie died and the peace it brought me when nothing else would bring me peace.  I called on it almost daily in those times, whether by the laying on of hands or prayer, when there seemed no peace to be had, it protected me.  Next, I thought of the time when I was expecting her and  we didn't know I was pregnant yet.  I was so sick.  They thought I had lymphoma or some rare disease.  They quarantined me at the hospital until they figured out what it was, shingles in my sciatic nerve and chicken pox at the same time.  Only after tons of pain killer and several x-rays did they come to this conclusion along with the conclusion that I was carrying a baby that had been bombarded by all of this.  I had a priesthood blessing at three months in the pregnancy and I very literally felt that baby "flip" inside me to allow me to know that she was going to be fine.

With every pregnancy thereafter, there were multiple blessings.  Some of comfort,  some simply miraculous that led to positive results.  With Jen, my water broke at 5 months.  I carried her for 2 months more and no one will convince me that she is not a miracle.  When I did deliver her, she was healthy and strong.  She literally "saved my life" in a time of great despair.  With Micah, it kept me going when I hemorrhaged internally on losing his twin.  It kept him alive one Christmas Eve when the ward gathered to fast and pray for a baby not yet born.  It kept us going though he was very sick, through night after night of monitors beeping when we didn't want them to, signaling he had stopped breathing.  Ten months later, it comforted me when after surgery I got an infection that sent my temperature soaring to 106 and I heard a voice calling my name.  It was not the voice of anyone standing around me.  I can only describe it as a clear voice coming from somewhere beyond the veil calling my name.  I can remember thinking I can't go yet I have to raise these children and I was blessed to stay.

It brought me peace when President Benson laid his hands on Micah's little head and blessed him that he "would have the health and strength of mind and body to accomplish everything he was sent to earth to do".  I have used that priesthood power to pull me through so many terrible times.  I have been so blessed to be surrounded by it.  Whether it was Ken or our dads, my sons or my brothers and now my grandsons and nephews and friends, brothers in the gospel, it is all the same.  I have only to ask. 

It has not always brought the results I had hoped, as in Jamie's death, but it has always brought with it peace and the knowledge that if I remain faithful, it will bring the "right" outcome.  It has always brought with it courage and strength.  It has always buoyed me up and seen me through.  It has helped me to understand that I very literally am a daughter of God and that no matter what, though I go through trials, He is always with me, loving me and has given a gift to bless my and so many other lives.

Michael, this is for you.  Don't doubt!  You were saved for this time in your life to have this gift.  It will bring you nothing but blessings.  Don't doubt it, only believe.  You will never regret it!  Sarah, this is for you.  Your sons will be safe in Heavenly Father's care to accomplish all that they were sent to earth to do.   Whatever needs doing you can do if you call on this power to help you do it.  You are surrounded by many good priesthood holders to help you.  Amanda, this is for you.  Get the help that is available to you through earthly means and then seek that priesthood at every turn.  It will bring you peace and comfort but only if you use the other resources available to you.  You know it!  You father is living breathing evidence of it's power.  All the doctors skill would not have saved him had he not had those blessings.  To all my children, honor this power!  In this day and time of sin and disobedience, it is a very real port in any storm!

To the rest of you who read this, just believe in whatever circumstance you find yourself, you are not alone while this power exists on earth as the "pure love of Christ".  All you need to do is ask with priesthood power and whatever is best for you through the Lord's will can be given you if only you believe.

Those of Like Minds

Ken and I have had a bit of a tough time the last couple of weeks.  As you know, our liberal NZ people passed a gay marriage bill this week.  We had a lady in the branch who isn't really well acquainted with some of our doctrine ask us what the church position on that was (hello, read the Proclamation on the Family).  She will shortly be getting a missionary visit to bring her up to date.

I guess that is the problem I see everywhere I look.  There are many in our branch who are so young or so uninformed or indifferent in the gospel that they don't know.  It becomes very discouraging and disheartening especially after just having conference, that so many don't know so much.  Ken just looked up a talk from Elder Faust that was given to 2500 lawyers at a convention that clearly explains how the Law of the Lord always trumps the law of the land.

Unfortunately, it is the common practice here to do just the opposite.  We have RM's living in partnerships (common law marriages) often with 2 or 3 children and they think they are okay because the law says it is okay.  The younger generations have pretty much given up on living the laws of God and their parents make it easy for them to do that.  Mom and dad say they can decide what they want to do because they are old enough etc.  I'm sorry but a 10 or 12 year old is not old enough to decide everything about their lives.  We know many young teens that are drinking with full consent of mom and dad.

I have a really hard time wrapping my mind around this lack of desire for parents to "train up a child in the way he should go" but I am surrounded by it.  Even some members have this attitude.

Sooooooo, when I come home and start to complain, just remind me how glad I should be to have "like minded" people surrounding me.  I, at this point in time am really looking forward to that little blessing.  Right now, it is looming large in my life.  Ken struggles to teach the very few priesthood holders here how that works.  Lack of PH leadership is huge in our little branch.  I think he can't wait to come home to his quorum and have a spirited discussion with those who really know.

My best friends and support are an older couple 75 and 70 years old that we just baptized.  They don't know a lot of doctrine yet but they know what is right and that is really big to me.  I feel like I can go to them at any point in time and I will be talking to a "like minded" person.  The older generation here, I'm talking around my age and older seem to get it.  They may have been Catholic or whatever else all their lives but they rely on the Lord and have been good family people etc.  They are pretty appalled at what is happening here and around the world right now.

Thanks my family, neighbors and friends for thinking like I do, supporting the values I support, giving your hearts and souls to the right things and generally being there for one another.  Only now am I beginning to realize what an important commodity that is in this world.

A Real Christmas Present

We've been waiting and waiting.  It seemed a long way off and now it is over.  We got our real Christmas present this weekend.  Just as at home, we got part of it on Christmas Eve (Apr. 5) and part on the real Christmas day (Apr. 6).  The baptisms and confirmations are over and all that is left is the satisfied feeling you get when you give someone the best Christmas present ever.

Friday, April 5, our sweet couple showed up to take that big step.  She simply glowed even though she was shaking in her shoes.  He was looking pretty great in his shirt, tie and jacket.  He was nervous too but not visibly shaking.  She is such a tiny thing and it was quite a chore to find some clothing for her to be baptized in.  We finally decided on some pants and one of my white shirts.  I had to hem the pants up about 8 inches.  He fit just right in one of the jumpsuits we have here at the branch.  There was much picture taking as is always the case and it kept everyone busy and semi-calm. 

It is a big step for anyone to take but for a couple who are 70 and 75 years old, it seemed even bigger.  When Elder Jarvis said the baptismal prayer, there was a huge pause in part of it.  I knew something was going on but didn't know what.  When I asked him later, he said it was like an electric shock shooting through his body the spirit was so apparent.  She came out of the water and hugged him tight.  He then went in and all went well.  Only one time apiece. 

The thing I wished most to have a picture of was too sacred to think of taking a picture.  It will always be in my mind.  Ken and I were the only ones who could see it.  As he came up the baptistery stairs, she hugged him and he hugged her tightly for a long time.  The tears were running down her face.  She had a smile as big as it could get.  I hugged them both.  If we had baptized no one else, it would have been worth it to see this one.  WAIT!  Haven't I said this before.  Interesting that the feeling has been the same with all of our baptisms.

The baptisms on the 6th were equally satisfying, a mother and her two beautiful children, 12 and 9.  They were all great but mom was the best.  She was shining as she came out of the font.  She is the mom that said to us, "Why wouldn't anyone want this for their family."  I remember saying to her, "I don't know.  Why wouldn't they?"

All of this has made so much sense to each of them.  There have been a couple of things involved in all of this that have been very apparent to me.  One was that these people really were prepared for this event in their lives.  Two was that I am married to a master teacher who takes full advantage of the spirit and the priesthood power he holds in knowing how to go about teaching what is necessary to bring these children of Heavenly Father along in the way they need to be brought.  What a good example he is to me and all of them of loving guidance.  I am still so grateful for this present I have been given this day after Christmas.