Thoughts from Pres Eyring that I want you to remember as you ponder on the happenings of this week. Remember when you were baptized and confirmed, and when you have the opportunity to be apart of baptisms and are performing those ordinances. You will hear the words, " Receive the Holy Ghost." I pray that at this time we will all remember that we have that constant companionship to help us through the trials and the hard times we might have a head of us. Uncle Todd was killed this weekend in a tragic accident, in a place he loved, with two of the people he loved more than anything.
"You know from the words of the sacrament prayer how that promise is fulfilled: “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them.”
And then comes the glorious promise: “That they may always have his Spirit to be with them” D&C 20:77"George Q. Cannon urged that we make a constant quest for the Spirit to be with us. He promised, and I promise it as well, that if we pursue that course, we “will never lack for knowledge” of the truth, “never be in doubt or in darkness,” and our “faith will be strong, [our] joy … full.”2
We need that constant help from the companionship of the Holy Ghost for yet another reason. The death of a loved one may come unexpectedly. It is the witness from the Holy Ghost of the reality of a loving Heavenly Father and a resurrected Savior that gives us hope and comfort at the loss of a loved one. That testimony must be fresh when death occurs." I witnessed a testimony that is fresh, this weekend. Justin Todd gave some powerful blessings to his family and grandparents, along with the grandpa's and Uncle Ty giving blessing to all those who sought a blessing. The Holy Ghost was there and I know things will be all right. I know Uncle Todd had a living testimony, he was always studying and reading good books, wanting to learn and understand and know more. I will always cherish the weekend we were at the cabin with the Lunds and the spiritual conversations we hand and for what Todd taught us back in July. He was so proud of Justin and Stephanie for the service they had giving to the Lord. He loved his family so much, not just in words, but with his funny wit and actions. Lord and Todd had a great relationship and understood each other so well, they have had to work together through some pretty hard times.
Last Picture before they headed home from a great week.
Todd was a great Hunter, he had patience, endurance, long suffering, quick wit, a great mountain cook, appreciation for nature, and loved his family more than anything in the whole world.
Some of Pres. Utchdorf's talk at Women's Conference
A girl in pioneer dress skipped along a bright blue path. The grass and trees were a vibrant green. Eva said, “It’s a painting of a girl. Looks like she’s skipping.”
“Yes, it is a pioneer girl skipping along happily,” Aunt Rose said. “I imagine there were many dark and dreary days for the pioneers. Their life was so hard—we can’t even imagine. But in this painting, everything is bright and hopeful. This girl has a spring in her step, and she is moving forward and upward.”
Eva was silent, so Great-Aunt Rose continued: “There is enough that doesn’t go right in life, so anyone can work themselves into a puddle of pessimism and a mess of melancholy. But I know people who, even when things don’t work out, focus on the wonders and miracles of life. These folks are the happiest people I know.”
“But,” Eva said, “you can’t just flip a switch and go from sad to happy.”
“No, perhaps not,” Aunt Rose smiled gently, “but God didn’t design us to be sad. He created us to have joy!3 So if we trust Him, He will help us to notice the good, bright, hopeful things of life. And sure enough, the world will become brighter. No, it doesn’t happen instantly, but honestly, how many good things do? Seems to me that the best things, like homemade bread or orange marmalade, take patience and work.”
Eva thought about it a moment and said, “Maybe it’s not so simple for people who don’t have everything perfect in their lives.”
“Dear Eva, do you really think that my life is perfect?” Aunt Rose sat with Eva on the overstuffed sofa. “There was a time when I was so discouraged I didn’t want to go on.”
“You?” Eva asked.
Aunt Rose nodded. “There were so many things I wished for in my life.” As she spoke, a sadness entered her voice that Eva had never heard before. “Most of them never happened. It was one heartbreak after another. One day I realized that it would never be the way I had hoped for. That was a depressing day. I was ready to give up and be miserable.”
“So what did you do?”
“Nothing for a time. I was just angry. I was an absolute monster to be around.” Then she laughed a little, but it was not her usual big, room-filling laugh. “‘It’s not fair’ was the song I sang over and over in my head. But eventually I discovered something that turned my whole life around.”
“What was it?”
“Faith,” Aunt Rose smiled. “I discovered faith. And faith led to hope. And faith and hope gave me confidence that one day everything would make sense, that because of the Savior, all the wrongs would be made right. After that, I saw that the path before me wasn’t as dreary and dusty as I had thought. I began to notice the bright blues, the verdant greens, and the fiery reds, and I decided I had a choice—I could hang my head and drag my feet on the dusty road of self-pity, or I could have a little faith, put on a bright dress, slip on my dancing shoes, and skip down the path of life, singing as I went.” Now her voice was skipping along like the girl in the painting.
Aunt Rose reached over to the end table and pulled her well-worn scriptures onto her lap. “I don’t think I was clinically depressed—I’m not sure you can talk yourself out of that. But I sure had talked myself into being miserable! Yes, I had some dark days, but all my brooding and worrying wasn’t going to change that—it was only making things worse. Faith in the Savior taught me that no matter what happened in the past, my story could have a happy ending.”
“How do you know that?” Eva asked.
Aunt Rose turned a page in her Bible and said, “It says it right here:
“‘God … will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
“‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’”4
Great-Aunt Rose looked at Eva. Her smile was wide as she whispered, with a slight quiver in her voice, “Isn’t that the most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard?”
We love you Uncle Todd!
Aunt Lori is a Strong hard working wife and mother. Her and Todd strong children, that have testimonies, Saturday evening was a sad time, but the spirit was so strong as the blessings were given to the family.
Lori and Todd's Bishop, his wife and the young women's pres and her husband came down and were here to support them. They will be Okay.
Miriah and Hollie trying to get warm after we got to the cabin last Monday.
Britton sitting out by the cabin waiting for the deer to come to him. Uncle Todd showed dad up again. They got two really nice deer, but they had gone out and found them. He was a great hunter!
Grandpa and Tyler and his kids came in a little bit later in the morning.
The kids had fun building a city.
Weston and Britton watching TV.
Grandpa shooting at the target.
Britton trying to shut the gate, He couldn't get it so dad had to get out to help him.
He had taken off is clothes since he was so wet and muddy.
Miriah's costume for Halloween. She wanted to be Violet from Charlie and the Chocolate factory.
She is so funny, they were having a costume fashion show at activity days.
On Saturday, I went to Bountiful Temple to do a session with Caden, and he and Sarah were going through for the first time. It was a beautiful day.
Quoting Sister Neill F. Marriott
"When we open ourselves to the Spirit, we learn God's way and feel his will."
"It will all work out"?
