Showing posts with label Ben's adventures in the mission field. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben's adventures in the mission field. Show all posts

Friday, April 3, 2020

Thursday, April 2nd, 2020

Salt Lake City, Utah
4th operating temple
Dedicated: 6-24 Apr 1893
By: Wilford Woodruff


Jesus Christ, Judge
Jude 1:15
To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"
The Priesthood
D&C 84, 107
April 2020 Gen Con

"Shall We Not Go On in So Great a Cause?"
President M. Russell Ballard
"We should always remember the price Joseph and Hyrum Smith paid, along with so many other faithful men, women, and children, to establish the Church."




"Return and Receive"
M. Russell Ballard
April 2017 Gen Con

Book
"The Divine Gift of Forgiveness"
Elder Neil L. Andersen

"Grace Where You Are"
Emily Belle Freeman


There were five deer grazing in our field today. I guess James was too tired to get up and see them.

Today is my friend Kerri's birthday. When I asked her mom what I could get for her birthday she said, "Kerri is hard to buy for. If you're up for it, she does like homemade bread. Bingo! I'll make her some rolls. I'm always up for that. I started the rolls about 6 a.m. but didn't deliver until this afternoon so I could pick up the mail on my way home.

I left the house around 3 p.m. with the basket of rolls. Kerri seemed happy to have them and ate one while we were talking.

Rolls are good plain, with butter, with jam or
with honey. Rolls are good, yum!

Catherine, Kerri, and I visited for awhile. Catherine is excited because they are feeding the missionaries tomorrow night. It's the first time since they have been here because the missionaries can't come to single sisters home. Because of the quarantine order the missionaries can't come to members homes. Catherine and Kerri will deliver their meal to the church where the missionaries will pick it up.

It was so windy today, while I was waiting on Kerri's porch for someone to answer the door, I thought the rolls were going to blow out of the basket. It's one of those days when you don't mind staying home.

When I got to the post office there was a pink slip in my box indicating that I had mail too big for the box. I went to the window and picked up three books, and a bigger box from Salt Lake City. It's my Easter creche! Pretty amazing since I just ordered it on Monday.

When I got home I realized that I hadn't mailed James's tax letter. What to do? Wait for tomorrow? I heard him tell them online that he was mailing the letter today so I turned around and went back to the post office. It was 4 p.m. when I got there and the window was closed. The letter won't be picked up until tomorrow but at least we can say we mailed it today.

When I got home I opened my books and then my Easter scene. I set it up on the table near the entry way so people can see it when they come in. It's a littler smaller than I thought so I moved the chair in front to the back of the table.


The scene goes with the book in the back by
Emily Belle Freeman. It is called, 
"A Christ-Centered Christmas"

Emily's book is based on people who helped or had contact with the Savior and were impacted by His life.  Emily's bases her seven Easter traditions on these people:
Lazarus
reminds us of the unexpected hope that will spring forth from the darkest moments of our lives.

Simon
exemplifies what it is to bear another's
burden so that it might be light.
He reminds us that although we can't
take away what lies ahead, 
we can help should the burden
for a while along the way.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
remind us that devotion, dedication, and sacrifice
will sometimes require giving up
in an effort to offer heavenward.

Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of
Jesus, and Mary the Wife of Clopas
remind us that our personal experiences with the Lord
will create testimonies that are unique, fragile, 
and worth sharing with those we love.

Thomas
reminds us that clinging to our belief in the Lord
will sustain us in moments of doubt
and bring peace in a world of uncertainty.

The Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
remind us that as we turn to the scriptures
our hearts will burn within,
we will be led to recognize the Lord,
and His Spirit will abide with us.

Jesus Christ
through His sacrifice
became our Redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel, our Savior.
On this day, rejoice in Him.


There are things to do as a reminder of these traditions. I wish my kids were still at home and we could do these activities. 

Sheri gets to talk to Ben two times a week during the quarantine. Today was her second time. He told her he had tons to talk to her about and some of it was good and some of it was bad. She was on pins and needles all day waiting for his call. He finally called around 4:30. Making a long story short here are the two main things he wanted to talk about. 

1. The bad news first. He went to check on some missionaries at their apartment where they were supposed to be and they weren't there. They were at a members house where they were not supposed to be. One of these missionaries was Elder Manu. Ben has helped him before. He does not have much support from home.
After this incident where they got caught and the mission president came to talk to them Elder Manu decided he wanted to go home. Ben's mission president asked Ben to handle him. Here is what Ben told him to do. "I want you to fast for peace. Satan can replicate many things but he cannot replicate peace. Elder Manu just sat there and Ben said: "Elder, do you not want to accept this challenge? Elder Manu: "Yes I do. I was just thinking how wonderful it would be to feel peace."

One of the other elders was laughing about this being the second time he had been in trouble with the mission president. Ben said to him: "Elder, do you realize you are laughing in Heavenly Father's face. This is His work and you need to decide if you are going to be a part of it."

In one of Ben Wilcox's lessons he talked about the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He said to be a good parent we must do both. If we only nurture our children will become spoiled and self-centered. If we only admonish it will affect their self-esteem and they will become discouraged. Ben knows how to do both. He knows how to nurture and he knows how to admonish. He will make a great father someday.

I think hearing this story about our missionary was the highlight of my day.







What a difference six years makes!


That's why she wanted their address!




Cute little Scarlett






















I just had to post this again








 The face off: Roxy and Ziggie