Dad's papers

 44 (11/27/23)  KINGDOMS OF GLORY This week I have been studying President Oaks talk, ‘Kingdoms of Glory”. This talk is jam packed with doctrine. We don’t hear this kind of talk very often from the pulpit. Often times the talks teach of a particular principle or Christlike attribute.  Here President Oaks lays out so much of the Plan of Salvation, differentiating our beliefs from the world. I would encourage each of you to read it. If you are wanting some really good study material, break this talk down and dive deeper. It is powerful! I love how it goes hand in hand with the prophet’s talk the very next day on “thinking Celestial”. The parts that stood out to me the most that I wanted to share here is how it highlights our agency in the Plan. Our desires, our choices determine what we will ultimately be comfortable with in eternity. I also love the thought of progressing to become something, not just walking a path outlined by rules and steps to get us to the end of the r...

 43 (11/20/23) President Ballard Like probably all of you, I have reflected on the passing of President Ballard this past week. What was your first thought or impression? If I were to guess, it was the same as mine. It was that you felt a sense of loss, but more so a sense of happiness that he is back in the loving embrace of his wife.  President Ballard has been a General Authority for almost 50 years and for my entire life. When I think of an apostle, he is one that I sang about as a primary boy. I am grateful for his devoted service to his Heavenly Father, and for his special witness to all the world of Jesus Christ.  I like to go back and listen closely after the passing of a prophet, to hear their last thoughts, words, and feelings in mortality. They bring so much peace and strength in their conviction and endurance to the end in witnessing of our Savior Jesus Christ. What words of wisdom or advice, or what matters most to them seems to come through as if they k...

 42-(11/13/23) Hello Family, This week Aunt Marianne sent out an invitation from Brogen’s mission to all the families of their Colorado missionaries, inviting them to share their testimony of the Book of Mormon. These would then be collected and sent to the missionaries in preparation for this new years study of the Book of Mormon as a church and for them as a mission. So this week Mama gave me the idea that I should share my testimony not only with Brogen, but with all of you. My invitation would be for you to write your testimony of the Book of Mormon down and to share it with someone. If you are not sure with whom to share it, may I suggest you share it with your siblings. I promise that your testimony will be a strength to each others. I love you so so much, Dad Elder Blackewell,  I am grateful for this opportunity to share my testimony of the Book of Mormon with you. It means so much to me, and to my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It brings so much jo...

41- Nov 6, 2023 The Temple Hello Family, Over this past few weeks, I have found some things getting in the way of my regular temple attendance. They can be seen as legitimate obstacles, like sickness, or important things for work that needed to happen in a timely way, but regardless they are “things” getting in the way of my regularly pattern of temple attendance.  It made me realized again how busy life is, how keeping to a fixed schedule is never as easy as it looks on paper. But it also made me realize that it is my schedule, my priorities, and my commitment that keep me going or not going to the temple regularly. And these past few weeks I have missed the focus, direction, and comfort I find there. My life, like all of yours, feels crazy at times. It is one of those times for me right now. I feel added pressures and stress at work with expansion, needed growth, completing construction on the new building, hiring, and a whole host of other things. Trying to find enough time to d...

40- 10-30-Hope in Christ This week I was asked by a High Councilman in our stake to be his companion speaker. He was speaking on missionary work, and asked if I would talk about the importance of the Holy Ghost in our lives in relation to the Hope we have in Christ. I thought I would share it with the family as my email this week. I am very grateful for the Gift of the Holy Ghost in my life, and that each of you have been blessed with this Gift from our Heavenly Father.  I love you all so much, Dad Hope in Christ.  Several weeks ago, my 14 year old son Graham and I were asked by the full time missionaries to attend a missionary lesson for a young man named Cal that they were teaching. We were happy to accept the invitation. In the weeks that have since followed that experience I have witnessed this young man’s Hope in Jesus Christ grow stronger. This Hope has led him to exercise his faith through obedience to Jesus Christ , leading him to the waters of baptism, and to receivin...

  The Gift of the Holy Ghost - Talk given at Cal Kelley’s Baptism John Chapter 3 - 1-5, 14-19 The story of Nicodemus. Jesus Christ teaching him the doctrine of Christ. Faith in the son of God, the necessity of baptism by water and the Spirit, and choosing to follow Christ through our actions Baptism by water and baptism by the Spirit or Fire, is one baptism. They are not separate. Born of water - baptism by immersion is symbolic of Repentance. Putting off the old and experiencing a new birth. Being born of the Spirit is to have the Gift of the Holy Ghost conferred upon you by the laying on of hands by one with proper authority from God. “ The Holy Ghost is the Messenger of Grace by which the blood of Christ is applied in our lives to take away our sins and to sanctify us.” (Todd D. Christofferson) We better understand the Gift of the Holy Ghost when we consider who the Giver of the gift is, and why the Gift was given.  Cal you are loved and supported by so many. But by none mo...