October 1 - 7, 8 - 14

Putting Yourself in a Place to Receive Revelation

President Russell M. Nelson told us, “Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!…You don’t have to wonder what is true.”

He said, “I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61).

He also added this very solemn warning. “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”

Gratitude. Prayer. Scripture. Pondering. Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. These all put us in a place to receive revelation, so if you were the Adversary, what would you do to block it? You would do everything to make a person’s life trivial, urgent and demanding so that these things had no place in it. You’d rock their world with too much to do, disbelief, and endless lists. You’d tell them they had no time to ponder. If they read scriptures, you’d suggest that one verse was enough. You’d tell them that reading last thing at night when they were too tired to hold their eyes open was sufficient. You’d feel their life with noise so that there was time neither for real study or prayer. You’d block that path of revelation in every way possible.

Owen Anderson planned a 1st Cousins party to remember Arthur and Mary Alice Anderson.  Wish we could have been there but we did send in some memories.  We come from a great family.  We are a missionary family, we love the Lord and we support each other. 

David, Dezann, Aunt Barbara, Robin, Janice
Lisa, Joquita, Cathy, Mike, Debbie
Mike, Julie, Owen

 The temple has been very busy all week but Saturday the parking lot was full.  We have never seen it this full before.

Temple parking lot at the end of the day 

Two weeks have gone by and I hope I can remember some of our activities.  First, Elder and Sister Ray and Carole Ann Broadbent have arrived and we are now on a new schedule.  The first week, while they were still in jet lag we introduced them to the temple and the two sessions we do each day.  We also took a few trips to Walmart and Costco to get some groceries and a few other amenities to get them settled in.  They were also looking for a car.  They found their car by Friday and are now trying to get it registered.  We went Monday to take care of it but the title had a problem so they are still working on that.  They are delightful people and are from Evanston Wyoming where he is a cattle and sheep man.  They have quite a large ranch in their family with 25,000 sheep and maybe as many cattle.  It is a second marriage for each of them.  Their previous spouses both passed away.  

We just finished up our first week of evening schedule.  We started out with the morning schedule 7-2 so they could get use to the time difference and now we have completed the first week of our evening shift 2-9.  They have been great.  We have enjoyed meeting all the workers now in the temple.  Some shifts have been very short so we have been going in extra to help out.  Thursday I went in at 6:30 - 11 and then back at 2-9.  You might be a little tired but it's a good feeling to be able to help out.  

We have had some wonderful own endowments and sealings we have been able to help with during these three weeks.  Yesterday a couple from Las Vegas came to be sealed.  Just the two of them and her parents.  It was a second marriage for each of these young people, probably in their late 30's.  It is so sweet to be a part of these experiences.  We had a family come from Kaui and many of their ward came with them to receive their endowment and have their son sealed to them and then flew home that afternoon.  This pass week we had a group from the Marshall Islands come and three couples were sealed and then had children sealed to them.  So very sweet.  

Today, fast Sunday, we attended the Huu'uka 4th Ward.  Many people from the temple live there.  Paul bore his testimony and we attended classes.  A very sweet spirit.  Sister Riseman lives in this ward.  She plays the organ on Tuesday mornings at the temple.  

Conference was again historical.  Many changes.  In January 2019 we will go to a two hour schedule.  We are moving to a home centered and church supported format.  We will all need to step up.  In the women's conference we were challenged to do four things.  1.  Read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year 2. Attend and make RS a priority 3.  Increase our attendance in the temple  4.  a 10 day fast from social media.  

ticket so unselfishly given by the Erricos

Marie Osmond and brothers

at the concert 

Saturday evening Brother and Sister Errico gave us their tickets to the Maria Osmond concert in Honolulu.  It was a terrific concert. She has such a range of voice and songs.  She also had her four older brothers there performing for the last time together.  We really enjoyed it and thank the Errico's so very much for their generosity. 

Jay, Marie, Merle Osmond

October 13, 2019 we lost a dear friend and brother in the gospel.  He was one of our great successes in our MLS mission in Salt Lake City South Mission in 2017.  The Sister missionaries had been trying to get in to see him but could never catch him home.  We said we would do it.  We checked a few times and then one day he was home from work.  He invited us right in.  We learned about his life.  He had been raised in an inactive family and by the time he was a teenager and a Priest he had fallen away from the Church.  He joined the service and served in Viet Nam.  Even after getting out of the service he was always very active in the VFW and held many responsible possitions there.  He was willing to learn again the gospel message.  We loved him from the start.  We met with him every Monday evening.  We first asked about the Book of Mormon and he ran downstairs and brought back the old blue seminary Book of Mormon which his grandmother had given him.  Every week we would give him a chapter to read and then we would discuss it the next time and teach him.  The thing I loved about him was that when he said he would do something he did it.  Never once did he disappoint us.  Slowly the spirit worked on him.  He wanted to go at his own pace and not be pushed.  Many people in the ward also were helping him.  Bishop Davis was also a millitary man and they had a great friendship along with many others.  He first committed to coming to Stake Conference with us on Saturday night where he met President Kurt Soffe, who his family had known for years.  He then committed to going to Priesthood general conference with Paul.  Slowly slowly he eased his way back into church.  He was eventually rebaptized and given the priesthood, then a responsibility.  He never missed his Sunday School class.  When we left he was embrassed by the Nicholacians, the new MLS couple.  We went to the Draper Temple with him to receive his endowment.  Shortly thereafter a new sister moved into the Ward and lived right across from him.  Within months they had found a love for each other.  They were married in May civilly.  Shortly thereafter Lowell was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  They then moved quickly to be sealed in the temple, which happened in the early part of October.  Yesterday, October 13th, he passed away.  It is heartbreaking for those who are left but he was prepared to meet his Savior and we know will be welcomed home with much love and a "well done good and faithful servant".  Judy helped him set things right with his children and I believe he had all in order.  We were so blessed to be a small part of his incredible life.  The Lord loves us and provides a way for us to return to Him with honor and glory.  Judy is an angel and blessed his life in so many ways.  He wasn't alone thru any of this and we know he will be beside her thru years until they are together again.  Thanks for blessing our lives Lowell.  We love you.

Lowell & Judy Tripp
River Ridge 8th Ward, Cornerstone 

Mar Jean Paul Judy Lowell, lunch at their home