Search, Ponder, and Pray

Roger and I spoke in Church on Sunday.  It was an interesting experience. While I prepared what I would say, my heart kept coming back to prayer.  I was given the conference talk by Elder Richard G. Scott, in the April 2014 conference, titled "I Have Given You an Example".  I have been loving my scripture study; it has given me guidance over the years. 

I thought over the things I had read. I wondered how I could be so blessed with experiences that helped me grow to be who I am.

I felt some specific things in my life needed to be told to this congregation that we are learning to love.  I told them how prayer is an important part of my life, that from the time I was a small child prayer has guided me.  I knew that God would answer my prayers because He had done so many times before. I have had times that the answers to my prayers came so fast after I had said them that it would startle me.  I also know that sometimes it has taken a long time to get an answer, and sometimes that answer is NO. So I have been evaluating my prayers and the sincerity of them.

The wonderful missionaries we are working with: From left to right:

The Ogden's, The Harmon's, The Osborn's, The Petersen's, The Mooney's

Tuesday was our first Zone Conference for our Mission.  It was held at the Church by the Visitor Center. It was moving to see so many young Elders and Sisters who are giving a year and a half to two years of their young lives to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a blessing they are to the Lord and to their parents who have the faith to send them on missions.  

President Stoker is an amazing man.  He truly emulates Christ-like attributes.  He centered our learning experience on Search, Ponder and Pray.  I felt that because of our talks on Sunday that I was prepared to be taught.  

I love 3 Nephi 17:3, After Jesus appears to the Nephites he speaks many things to them, then he says: "Therefore, go ye unto your homes and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow and I come unto you again."  He tells them to go home and PRAY about the things they have learned.  It is amazing that the Savior wants us to pray about the things He has said that we might know for ourselves from the Father.

The Bible Dictionary says about prayer:  "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part....Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other.  The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others the blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them."

Elder and Sister Ogden, Elder and Sister Harmon, Elder and Sister Osborn, Us, Elder and Sister Mooney

The Harmon's and Mooney's take care of the grounds the rest of us do the tours etc.

The night before Anne died she told Ward that she needed to make some phone calls. Ward dialed and Anne bore solemn testimony to her beloved friends.  I am not sure what she said to each of them, but on the day of her funeral, when we were leaving the cemetery, her sweet friend from California, Amber Wong, came up to a group of us and said "Anne called me on Friday and said God has a plan for me. Do you know what it is?"

Yes I do know, I wish I had been able to tell her at that moment. We were so caught up with the funeral and the day, but the moment was lost.  I hope Amber has found her answer.  It is an important one.

I have been blessed these past three days.  I have felt my
Savior's love and my "mind of understanding" has  been opened and my Testimony of God and Jesus Christ has increased.

Cold!

We were told that we needed to prepare for the cold.  I figured I have lived in the Utah mountains with cold air, lots of snow and ice.  I was sure I would do just fine.  I did, for a while, then it came.

With Christmas over and the New Year upon us I thought we were doing well.  The numbers of visitors did not slow down even up until New Years night.  Roger spent a lot of time outside inviting visitors into the residence to have cookies and cider.  He thought he could do this with just his suit coat on.  He got soooo cold. Luckily we had put his overcoat in the car.  A very smart thing to do. We have spent most of our time inside.  

Just as everyone helped decorate before we got here. We all helped un-decorate after New Years.

Lauren was worried about our little Christmas tree, but this is the one we saw everyday.

Notice the Angel Moroni as the tree topper.

Although it didn't take long, it took energy.  We had to put away all the Nativities, the Christmas tree, the garlands and switch the pictures on the walls.

The pictures on the walls changed with the New Year

On Saturday night we left the center and it was raining.  In the night it snowed making it icy and slick.  We got a call early on Sunday morning telling us that Church had been moved from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  That was not a problem for us; we just made the adjustment.  Our meetings were good.  Just when we finished singing the opening song in Relief Society the Bishop came in and told us that church was over. We needed to get home before it was too icy to drive.  The temperature had dropped 15* in 10 minutes.

We all were OK with that.  The people who live here know what to expect under all these different circumstances. I am glad they know.

Monday morning we drove up to the Visitors Center and Roger and I were in awe.  It has been hard to describe what the snow looks like.  Maybe seven minute icing, melted marshmallow cream, satin draped across the world, maybe even shiney milk white glass or white ice.

I had  to take this picture from inside the car because the window was frozen shut.

What ever the description it is beautiful. As I walked into the center this morning I leaned over to touch this beauty and it was as smooth as silk, but very cold.

I have bought some really warm socks and I wear a sweater all the time.  

I am amazed at the beauty of this world that was created for us.

We are blessed in the most incredible ways.