Letter to the Class

Trial and comfort are opposites. Both are needed. By their contrast you appreciate the other. An example would be the blazing hot sun is desired when you experience a blinding snow storm. Still, both are appreciated because of the other.  Jesus knows your trials and comforts. He's been through it all; warmth of the Gospel and friendship and grueling pain of loss and betrayal. But in knowing both, He, the Savior of the world knows so much more fully, your experience. He has taught the gospel and watched as the rich joy blessed the lives of the new saints.  Go to the vision of Joseph. He suffered hardship as a husband and father. Just because he saw God doesn't mean things were light for him. God doesn't play favorites ( Acts 10:34-35 and Romans 2:11). If you are struggling, it's an opportunity to see joy, exercise faith, and learn repentance and loyalty to our Father in Heaven. Coming into adulthood we experience bad companions, bad jobs or bosses, bad weather, sickness ...

Elders, Pestilence Plague War and Death are the four horsemen of Apocalypse. Revelation of John chapter 6 give quite a bit of detail. They say these beings have swords, bows and crowns. He (John) talks of their colors and smells. It talks of how these angels will reign with blood and horror. This is not what I wish to talk about. I don't want to read to much into what these four do to us on a world level but an individual level; in a spiritual level. You are sons of God and children of the Most High (Psalms 82:6) and Satan that great lier knows it. When I look at the horsemen I consider how Satan can get past my armor of God. Yes he can beat it off me (war) but he is cunning. He would rather have you take it off. Plague you with  a flood of questions you have no answer for. Bug (pestilence) you about the mysteries of God that you are not prevy to. He wants that bug to get under your armor, be it doubt or fear. This messes with your joy, your faith and hope. He wants you to cease ch...

It is interesting that the Lord gave different levels of talents and when he came He, the Master, did no comparison from one server to another. Each servent was interviewed individually and,yes, they doubled their increase but five plus five is ten and two plus two is four. The second man didn't even match his fellow, yet they were judged on their own effort and not on the the efforts of others. With that judgement will we be reviewed. The Master will be what you perceive Him to be.  At times we think that the Lord will take from us what is invested. Yes He took from the unprofitable servent by He wanted it to be invested and appreciated. When we stretch and take risks with our faith, our charity, our joy, it will grow to tremendous levels.  In life we are asked to stretch, straighten and strengthen. We do the Lord's will over and over, still He asks for more and that's not because He is selfish but that he is thinking of us; understands us. We have talents that the Lord ga...

  The coin had the countenance of the government or of the weakness of men. Who or what has the countenance of God? Genesis says God made man in his image and likeness. While we are in His likeness or countenance, like the other side of the coin is His countenance upon us. Do we let it be part of us? Like a coin, do we beat the image of the King of heaven and earth? Do we reflect the image of a Zion people? Look at a coin from your pocket. Men of valor are reflected on one side and buildings of marvelous work are on the other side. A coin experiences a lot of heat and pressure to become what it is. Do we experience the same and if so what pressures do we allow and what pressures do we resist? We are shaped daily by our experiences. Going on a mission, going to the temple or church forges us into who we are becoming. We resist sin, temptation and enticing of the devil. We seek places that make the Lord shine through us. Our testimony is constantly becoming harder and more unmovable ...

Brothers and sisters,  Sorry I missed last week so some of last week will be blurred with this week. First, this week, it seemed that the people needed, after hearing the gospel, the name of the church. When I say Disney what do you think of? Hamburgers? Cars? Nope! Rides and movies, that's what comes to mind. Now say the name of His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  What images come to mind? Prophets, seekers, and revelations? Scriptures? Temples? Conference? Great! Now we have an image; what else did Jesus need us to do? We look like Christ's church. What next? We need to act like His church. Like anything else we need to be and not just look like Christ's church. Our actions, speech, and thoughts need to reflect the words of Christ.  Let's ask a new question. What does the Gospel mean to you? What do you do to show Christ in your countenance? Do you study the scriptures and pray; volunteer your time?  What drives, and motivates you on your ...

image Brothers and sisters, We are asked to be awake for the gospel and help others to awaken . So much was revealed in the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants. President Uchtdorf and Carol M Stephens warned us not to be asleep in the restoration. The things that section opened out eyes to tell us to be constantly vigilant. We should be studying and praying; teaching and fasting; constantly mindful of what the Lord wants us to learn.  I know life is messy and when we tell our stories it's different each time. The stories we tell are personal to each audience but because it is messy we gain different insights each time our stories and testimonies are told. The first vision is an example of Joseph's experience with the Lord and our Father in Heaven. Some naysayers want to say the testimony is proof of a false church or something like this. Not so. If we look at the four gospels, though told by four inspired men, they bring out moments in the Savior's life...