Dad's papers

 35- 9/25/2023 Patriarchal Blessings Patriarchal Blessings It was fun to visit with Miles today on his 20th Birthday. We were so happy to hear that the missionaries and members are making it a big deal and celebrating our missionary on his special day. Makes mama and I so happy.  Yesterday was a special day for Graham as he received his Patriarchal Blessing. It was a really powerful blessing and the Spirit was strong. Mama and I were talking afterwards how neat it has been for us as parents to be present as you have each received these sacred blessings. It is so reassuring as parents to know that if you will treasure up this individualized counsel and guidance given to you by your Heavenly Father, and seek for the gifts and blessings pronounced upon you heads, that you will find so much peace, joy, and strength throughout your lives. That you will each literally be guided safely home as you faithfully live the Gospel, and seek for the blessings given from your Heavenly Father....

 34 (9/18/23)  Moroni: Sept 21, 1823 Hello Family, As the 200th Anniversary of Moroni’s appearance to Joseph Smith approaches in a few short days, I have re-read Joseph Smith’s history of that account as well as all the recorded words given to us by Moroni in the Book of Mormon. It has been really fun to study closer the life of this last Nephite prophet, as well as his mission as a resurrected angel assigned to help bring forth the restoration of the gospel upon the Earth in this last dispensation and in preparation for the Savior’s return.  Below are just some of the highlights of Moroni’s life and teachings that stood out to me, things he emphasized and brought to light as well as things he experienced in his day.  In the last great battle of the Nephite people at the Hill Cumorah, about 385 AD all but 24 individuals of the Nephite Army were killed. Two of the remaining 24 were Mormon and his son Moroni. Sometime in the following 15 years from that battle Mormon w...

 33- (9-11-23) More Holiness Give Me More Holiness Give Me I have been reading President Packer’s book “That All May Be Edified” and there was a section from a talk he gave that I wanted to share that has been in line with my recent scripture study and also with some of the stake conference messages this past weekend in our stake. These thoughts center around our desire to increase the purity of our lives. Purity encompasses so much, but keeping ourselves morally clean is a very big part of it. None of us are exempt from this powerful tool of the adversary in this crazy world we live in. So below is a message I wanted to share from President Packer. “You must learn this: Overcoming moral temptation is a very private battle, an internal battle.” There are many around you who want to help and who can help, parents, a bishop, a marriage partner… But this is an individual battle. “You have the God-given right to be free and to choose. In speaking about ridding ourselves of immoral...

 32    9/4/23 Daily Reading of the Book of Mormon I thought I would follow up with the great message Miles shared with all of us yesterday about studying the scriptures every day.  Below are promises given by prophets specifically about reading the Book of Mormon. Take a minute to read these promises and let us all recommit to follow Miles’ invitation to get back in a groove if we find ourselves out of daily scripture study. Prophetic Promises Studying the Book of Mormon will change you. It will change your family. Latter-day prophets have made promises about the power of the Book of Mormon since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored. Ponder the following statements, and review them regularly. Which of these blessings would you like to receive? As you read the Book of Mormon, consider recording and sharing with others how these promises are fulfilled in your life. The Prophet Joseph Smith: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the mo...