Dad's papers

77-7/29/24 REpresenting Christ.   It was so much fun to have everyone together this past weekend. This coming week we’ll have our Miles back! There are no words to express the excitement we are all feeling!  As I think about Miles coming home, memories of finishing my mission come flooding back. Those of you who have served remember the joy and satisfaction of completion, but also the heartache of leaving people you likely wouldn’t see again, as well as the difficulty of removing    your name tag you were so honored to wear. Representing the Savior, wearing His name on your chest, there was really nothing like it, and it brought a sense of sadness to take it off that final time. But the good news is, and Miles will find this out very quickly, that we really don’t remove Him from out lives. We literally have taken His name upon us. Though it is in a different capacity, his power, direction in our lives can be ever present, just like those days in the mission field....

  This week in Come Follow Me there was a scripture question that stood out to me. It is found in Alma 26:2 “And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?” What a great question. Can ye tell? In other words, Can you recognize God’s hand in the detail of your life? Can we see His hand in the good and the bad, the mundane day to day, and the hard times in our lives. I know that is hand is there. And though the world tries to convince us otherwise, His blessings are not only promised, but purposeful.  I loved this little story from this past Conference told by Elder Gong. A Chinese story begins as a man’s son finds a beautiful horse. “How fortunate,” the neighbors say. “We’ll see,” says the man. Then the son falls off the horse and is permanently injured. “How unfortunate,” the neighbors say. “We’ll see,” says the man. A conscripting army comes but doesn’t take the injured son. “How fortunate,” the neighbors say. “We’ll see,” says the man. I was talki...

73- (7-1-24)  Hello Family, July 1st! Hard to believe. Miles get’s home this month, and we are all so excited! We are also excited to head down to Utah this weekend to spend time at the Glavinic reunion, and to see Sadie and Seth. A quick thought for the week. I really enjoyed Elder Bednar’s talk this past conference. His take home message was from the Doctrine and Covenants section 101 vs 16…. be still and  know  that I am God. He teaches us what it is to be “still” and how we’ve been blessed with sacred spaces allowing an environment for this stillness. But the part that stuck out to me the most is the perspective those still moments bring to each of us, and the inspiration in those movement that we can bring into our homes, families, and daily lives.  Elder Bednar - “Our homes should be the ultimate combination of both sacred time and holy place wherein individuals and families can “be still” and know that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, and Jesus...

 72- 6/24/24) All in (garments and covenants) President Oakes started out his talk this past conference in this way: “How does your Church differ from others? My answer to this important question has varied as I have matured and as the Church has grown.” This statement by President Oakes struck me. Growing line upon line and precept upon precept is God’s pattern for each one of us as we spiritually mature, as well as the pattern for the growth of His Church. I think about how far the Church has come just in my lifetime, and the things I have learned. Especially in regards to Temple worship. Through the teachings of prophets our understanding has become clearer on how covenants bind us to Jesus Christ and guide us along the path back to our Heavenly Home. Here is an example of receiving “further light and knowledge”, or growing line upon line. When I first went through the Temple before my mission I remember being left with the impression, by those instructing me in the temple,...

  It’s been another good week with lots happening. Avery still has another full week in Brazil and will return on Friday. We’ve all missed her a ton, but none more than Lainey. Those two have such a close relationship, and it has been hard on her to be without her roommate these past couple of weeks. Miles is entering his last transfer… the countdown is on here at home. Finish strong buddy! What has stood out to me this week in my personal study is the power of scripture in our lives. It’s crazy to me to think that this powerful source for good and direction in our lives can so easily go untapped by the majority of the world.  From the very beginning there have been prophets on the Earth who have taught and recorded the word of God. This recording is by design, and turns hearers and readers thoughts heavenward. From Adam to President Nelson,    each prophet has testified of Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and the need for each of us to follow Him....

 70- (6-10-24) COME FOLLOW ME-taking upon us the name of Christ We had a neat Come Follow Me yesterday. Mama shared a special experience that happened to her this week. She was voicing to me her thoughts about how to respond to a tragic life event one of her friends had experienced. This friends faith has waned over the years, making mama unsure of how to respond. She wanted to bear her testimony via text or email, but was struggling with what words to share. Out loud she voiced her faith in the Savior to me, testifying of the power and healing of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the comfort that brings her personally and how she can’t imagine experiencing tragedy in her life without that faith to lean on. Then she said something like, “I just don’t know what to say to my friend.” Graham, after overhearing this conversation, simply and sweetly said, “just tell her what you just said.” I didn’t say anything, nor did mama at the time. But it took us both back. It was so powerful and...

 69- (6/2/24) Happy June! Lainey, Avery, and I had a fun weekend down with Sadie and Seth. Thank you both for all the hospitality and fun, it was great to be together! Avery is getting set to spend most of June in Brazil, and we are super excited for this adventure for her. We can’t wait to hear all about it (even Emma :) We miss you Abe, and can’t wait to hear how you thrive in the Amazon. We are praying for you every day. This past week as we were finishing up reading the Book of Mosiah in Come Follow Me, I had the thought that has stuck with me and I wanted to share. It is found in Ch. 29 as King Mosiah is approaching the end of his life, We are familiar with the story of how none of his sons wanted to become king, and how the reign of the judges was instituted. In verse 8 Mosiah counsels his people to “be wise” and to really consider the future, trying to project or look out to see what their choices “now” would mean for them later. In verse 10 he says again, “now let us be wis...