Sunday worship

Grace and Maggie playing in the parking lot after church

We had a really good sacrament meeting today, I love it always but good speakers make it even better.  Jared Williams spoke, he's leaving on a mission to Argentina in 2 weeks.  That boy is well prepared, he did a great job and was so confident and dynamic.  18 years old and he's ready to go out and serve the Lord.  I told Ethan that we had to train him up to be ready.  He said he didn't want to be trained up, which is silly of course he does.

Marriner Merrill was our high council speaker and he did an awesome job.  He spoke about the Book of Mormon.  Some of the highlights were:
He said there are three reasons to read the Book of Mormon.
1. it is the keystone,
it is a witness of Christ.
it is the keystone of doctrine
it is the keystone of testimony.
He told a fun story from his mission to Ukraine.  He and his companion were buying an orange and talking with the vendor when from the stall next to them the woman selling whatever began to talk to them. Her Russian was very poor yet she was very interested.  They gave her a Book of Mormon and in it was an invitation to come to church.  Much to their surprise she came and they began to teach her.  At one point they invited her to read 3 Nephi 11 (a favorite chapter), she misunderstood and thought that was the only chapter she could read that week so she read it over and over and over again.  When they next met with her, and sat in her humble kitchen, around her table, she shared with them her testimony of Christ.  Bro Merrill said it was so powerful as if she all but saw with her own eyes the sacred events and because she paid the price of really reading and pondering and studying she received that personal revelation that the Book of Mormon was true, and that Jesus Christ is her Savior.  Even now, years later while hearing the account it was very touching and I felt the Spirit's witness.

2.  It was written for our day.
All the writers, the prophet historians who kept the sacred record knew that it was not for them or that time but that it would be saved for the last days.  As a result we should read it and search for the lessons that are relevant and helpful for today's problems/challenges.

3." Reading the Book of Mormon will bring a man close to God, by abiding by it's principles, than by any other book".

and a promised blessing:
“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (Ensign, May 1980, p. 67).



We have not always done well at reading with the children every day.  But we have always had it as a goal.  And there is no time like today to really do the job right!

picnic lunch in the back yard on a beautiful fall day

After church today Maggie came to play with Grace.    Hannah and I are making dinner for Alyssa's family as her mom had surgery and Bub has math to do.