OUR FAMILY: Samoan temple #22

Apia, Samoa
22nd operating temple
Dedicated: 5-6 Aug 1983
Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Creator

Job 10:8

Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.

Book of Mormon

Alma 26:17-37

*Alma 26:26. Perseverance Leads to Success

-The success the sons of Mosiah experienced among the Lamanites exceeded their expectations (Alma 26:30-31). As they began their missions, the Lord promised, "I will make an instrument of thee inn my hands unto the salvation of many souls" (Alma 17:11). With this promise they "took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God" (Alma 17:12). Success in their endeavors did not come automatically, even though the Lord had promised it. During the course of their 12-year mission, they experienced "all manner of afflictions" (Alma 26:30). The record further indicates their hearts became "depressed, and they were about to turn back" (Alma 26:27). Yet, trusting in the promises of the Lord, they continued in their efforts. Then, as He always does, the Lord honored His promises and rewarded their perseverance.

Alma 26:27-30. The Realities of Missionary Service

-Elder F. Burton Howard of the Seventy shared how his reading Alma 26 as a young missionary impacted his testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon: "I was reading again the twenty-sixth chapter of Alma and the story of Ammon's mission. I read out loud, as I sometimes do, trying to put myself in the position of the characters in the book, imagining that I was saying or hearing the words, that I was there. Once more I went over the report, and, with a clarity which cannot be described and which would be difficult to comprehend by one who has not experienced it, the Spirit spoke to my soul, saying, did you notice? Everything that happened to Ammon happened to you?

"It was a totally unexpected sentiment. It was startling in its scope; it was a thought that had never occurred to me before I quickly reread the story. Yes, there were times when my heart had been depressed and I had thought about going home. I too had gone to a foreign land to teach the gospel to the Lamanites. I had gone forth among them, had suffered hardships, had slept on the floor, endured the cold, gone without eating. I too had traveled from house to house, knocking on doors for months at a time without being invited in, relying on the mercies of God. There had been other times when we had entered houses and talked to people. We had taught them on their streets and on their hills. We had even preached in other churches. I remembered the time I had been spit upon. I remembered the time when I, as a young district leader assigned by the mission president to open up a new town, had entered, with three other elders, the main square of a city that had never had missionaries before. We went into the park, sang a hymn, and a crowd gathered. Then the lot fell on me, as district leader, to preach. I stood upon a stone bench and spoke to the people. I told the story of the restoration of the gospel, of the boy Joseph Smith going in to the grove and the appearance of the Father and the Son to him. I remembered well a group of teenage boys, in the evening shadows, throwing rocks at us. I remembered the concern about being hit or injured by those who did not want to hear the message. I remembered spending time in jail while my legal right to be a missionary in a certain country was decided by the police authorities. I still remember the feeling I had when the door was closed and I was far away from home, alone, with only the mercies of the Lord to rely on for deliverance. I remembered enduring these things with the hope that 'we might be the means of saving some soul' (Alma 26:30). And then on that day as I read, the Spirit testified to me again, and the words remain with me even today: No one but a missionary could have written this story. Joseph Smith could never had known what it was like to be a missionary to the Lamanites, for no one he knew had ever done such a thing before."

Old Testament

1 Chronicles 27-28

27 The officers who serve the king are named - The princes of the tribes of Israel are set forth.

28 David assembles the leaders of Israel - Solomon is appointed to build the temple - David exhorts Solomon and the people to keep the commandemnts - David gives Solomon the pattern and materials for the temple.

General Conference

The Heart of a Prophet

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"The period of time between the death of a prophet and the reorganization of the First Presidency is referred to as an 'apostolic interregnum." During this period, the Quorum of the Twelve, under the leadership of the quorum president, jointly holds the keys to administer the leadership of the Church. President Joseph F. Smith taught, 'There is always a head in the Church, and if the Presidency of the Church are removed by death or other cause, then the next head of the Church is the Twelve Apostles, until a presidency is again organized."

Ensign: "Three Modern Pioneers Journey's" "Feel Disconnected? Try Slowing Down"

I listened to four chapters from President Eyring's biography today. I watered the flowers, grass, and the bunnies. Although I don't particularly like the wind, I love to here it blowing through the pine trees, and I love the clouds!

This afternoon I went into town to do some shopping. First stop was Dollar Tree to get more silver cookie platters. I bought all they had left, 8. Next I went to J.C. Penney's and bought three new tops. Two of them were on sale. Last of all, Walmart.

I bought a few groceries, some birthday gifts for Lola, and items to put in the service bags the young women are doing for the firemen. Around here firemen are almost royalty. I know of one young woman who wants to be a fireman and she is going to take courses to qualify to be one.

One I returned home and put all my purchases away I swept, cleaned and polished the hall and entryway floor, using the same polish I used on the wood floor. It looks very nice.

I also finished my steps and watch Hallmark's "Lovestruck Cafe" starring Andrew Walker, one of my favorites. I fell asleep during a Christmas movie so I went to bed.