A Tribute to the Brave and Their Families (Ward Newsletter - July 2011)

Early in April 2010, we opened our home and our hearts to our son and his family upon their return from a year of training at Defense Language Institute Foreign Language School in Monterey, California. Two months later, we said goodbye to John as he began his twelve month deployment to Iraq. His sweet wife and nine month old son remained behind. Has it been a challenge? Yes, for us ALL! Has it been an inconvenience? Perhaps at times. But what I want to share with you is this:

A young, pregnant wife with her small child, said goodbye to her husband not knowing the conditions in which he would live, the tasks that he would be assigned, nor what the outcome of his deployment would be.

I have observed a very strong and courageous young woman bear the burdens of raising a family alone in a home that was not her own, with a family that she had not been raised with. She endured many sleepless nights, illnesses of both child and dog, and numerous doctor and veterinarian visits. All alone in the hospital delivery room, she came close to the valley of the shadow of death to bring their baby into the world, not knowing if her husband would ever return to meet his daughter. She was determined to be self-sufficient and not to burden her in-laws, and other than a few times of being called upon to assist, she was just that!

She continued her solo adventure by searching for a home, signing documents, purchasing appliances, and with dignity endured the stress that comes from a move; including packing and making all the arrangements for movers, utilities, and such. Now, I observe her as she unpacks and organizes their new home. She waits however, on the major decisions of beautification so that he can contribute when he returns home from his deployment.

My son? Well, I have no knowledge of what he has had to endure other than the heat, perhaps food and drinking water and overall sanitary conditions, but most importantly, the separation from his family. Often people inquire about him, but there isn't much to report. How much CAN he share? Do we really want to know? The news becomes a necessary link to that part of the world of course, but also our worst enemy as we fearfully, and prayerfully watch, and wait for word that he is fine.

Like many of our soldiers, he is a dedicated family man. I know that he has suffered dearly being away from his sweet wife and very young children, and yet LIKE his brave wife, ne'er a complaint did he utter. His service to our country will more than likely go unnoticed to the general public. He, like most of our valiant men and women, is private and humble and does not desire attention at his graduations, promotions, or upon his return from deployment. They simply desire to do their jobs and return home safely to be with their families.

So, as I sit here in my now uncluttered home, cleaning and reorganizing, and spreading ourselves out now that there is an abundance of room, I ponder: What was our sacrifice, really? To be quieter in the home? To see clutter in several of the rooms? To give up the garage to their car, furniture and boxes? To have to schedule laundry days? To experience additional wear and tear on the home? To have to share my kitchen with another woman? Who truly had to make the greater sacrifice?

Over the past months, I have been blessed with an increased understanding of service: Service to GOD by serving others; Service to our FAMILIES, by being willing to share all that He has given us; Service to our COUNTRY, even if it means the possibility of the ultimate sacrifice.

As you and your loved ones celebrate the birth of our nation, I encourage you to remember those who have sacrificed much for our country...for you and for me, and for our posterity. Share this with your children and your grandchildren. Pray for, and if given the opportunity, thank a soldier or a veteran. Pray for and thank a spouse and the children that were left on the home front to bear all the daily burdens alone, all the while wondering....praying...and waiting for the day he is back in their arms and the family is whole. This is truly the land of the free, because of the brave.

God bless ALL our troops and those that love and miss them and sacrifice in our behalf as well. God bless AMERICA!

Down Into Our Hearts (Ward Newsletter - February 2011)

In February, our thoughts naturally focus on the affairs of the heart. Turning for a moment, away from the Hallmark connotations, I want to explore the more spiritual interactions of the heart.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:5 reads, "Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him."

What does it mean to love the Lord with all our heart, might, mind and strength? To answer this, we must first address the fact that "love" indicates that an action of some sort must be taken, for love does not conjure up images of passive behavior. Thus the second part of this scripture in which we are counseled to "serve him". Just how DO we serve Him? Verse 6 goes on to explain that we are to "love thy neighbor as thyself."

On the other hand, we are also taught that we will be judged by what is in our hearts, right? This may imply that no action is needed. Elder Marvin J. Ashton said, "When the Lord measures an individual, He does not take a tape measure around the person’s head to determine his mental capacity, nor his chest to determine his manliness, but He measures the heart as an indicator of the person’s capacity and potential to bless others. " (Hmmm...to "bless others"!)

He goes on to say, "Why the heart? Because the heart is a synonym for one’s entire makeup...The measure of our hearts is the measure of our total performance. As used by the Lord, the “heart” of a person describes his effort to better self, or others, or the conditions he confronts. (General Conference, Oct 1988) Again, effort takes action and to bless not only ourselves, but others.

One of my favorite comments by President Elder B. Eyring is the following: Speaking here of our dear Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, he said, "When I was responsible for teaching the gospel to our youth in our seminary programs across the world, he (the Prophet) had said, tapping his forefinger on my chest, “Hal, why don’t you do better in getting the gospel down into their hearts?”He knew that only when it was down in their hearts, as it was in his, would they be strong enough and brave enough to qualify for eternal life. He loved young people. He knew their weaknesses and the fierce opposition which they would face.

President Hinckley knew that God will steel and fortify us all as we choose to take the gospel down into our hearts. And he knew that the choice was made by consecrating all we are and have to follow the Master. (Ensign March 2008)

I believe that for us to truly love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, might, mind and strength we too must do better in getting the gospel down into our hearts and the hearts of our children, that God might steel and fortify us as we consecrate all we are and all we have to follow the Master. Then and only then can we fully understand the will of the Lord and how we can better serve Him, through our service to others.

Beginning Anew (Ward Newsletter - January 2011)

What visions come to mind when you ponder the word NEW? Newborns, a new home, a new car, new clothes or shoes, a new book, or maybe even a new place to visit? Most of these items conjure up pleasurable experiences, excitement, or simply awaken the senses. Is there anything sweeter to look at, smell, touch or listen to than a new baby? There's no comparison here to a newborn, but I personally also enjoy the scent of the printed pages of a new book. Don't we strive to keep our "things" in top condition for as long as we can? The moment we soil a shirt, ding a car or someone tramples on our newly laid sod, we are crushed or even devastated. It's ruined! It will never be the same again. We might even toss an item aside.

Let's reflect on the memories of our baptism for a moment? Being a convert, I was nearly thirty-three years old when I was baptized. I can still recall the sweet feeling I had as I came up out of the water--fresh, clean and NEW. There was absolutely no residue of my past transgressions left. I also can confirm that this bright, shining, new moment did not last very long. Much like new items that we purchase, the newness of that perfect moment also began to tarnish. Each New Year's Day, we begin with anticipation and excitement at the idea of starting fresh, a new beginning, a new heart. How often do we find ourselves failing to keep our goals or hold fast to our resolutions and commitments? We become discouraged and disappointed in ourselves, and often choose to give up instead of forging ahead in spite of our shortcomings or setbacks. We feel perhaps, that we have to wait a whole year before we can try again. Why do we do this? How can we keep ourselves from giving up.

Then the message to me was clear: Beginning anew doesn't just pertain to the New Year. If we break it down, we can apply it to a new month or week. Each week we have the opportunity of starting new by changing our hearts, asking for forgiveness, and partaking of the sacrament. Each week is filled with new days; each day, new hours and even minutes. Wow! We have an abundance of opportunities for starting over, starting fresh.

This year as we begin a new decade, we also have the privilege of studying the New Testament. In The Historical Context of the New Testament article in this month's Ensign, it reads: "The Greek words translated as "new testament" actually refer to a covenant, the new covenant the Savior extends to us through the Atonement." We know that it is through the Atonement of Christ that all mankind may be saved; therein lies the "good news". Through the Atonement, with the Lord by our side, we can begin anew...each year, each month, week, day, hour or even minute. How blessed we are this year to be able to study the New Testament and be given the opportunity to change our hearts and come unto Christ anew. For with Him there is hope, faith, and light. Where we fall short, he picks up the slack or as we hopefully have experienced, may even carry us.

President Thomas S. Monson shared in the April 2009 session of General Conference: " Too numerous to mention are the examples of all the individuals who have faced difficult circumstances and yet who have persevered and prevailed because their faith in the gospel and in the Savior has given them the strength they have needed."

It is my desire then that as we fail, and I know I will to one degree or another, that through our understanding of the Atonement our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we will pull ourselves up and realize that we have another opportunity to begin anew with each moment, and persevere and prevail.